Malaysia seeks greater military ties with U.S.

Malaysia seeks greater military ties with U.S.

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia, which sees potential security threats from unrest in Indonesia and the Philippines, said on Wednesday it is seeking stronger military cooperation with the United States.

Deputy Defense Minister Mohamad Shafie Apdal held talks on regional security with visiting Admiral Dennis Blair, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command.

"I reminded him that the cooperation that exists...should be increased," Shafie told a press conference afterwards, without elaborating.

Shafie said the talks focused on the security situation in Indonesia and the Philippines. They followed a briefing for Blair by Malaysian intelligence officials.

"The U.S. was concerned about ensuring a peaceful region," he said.

Shafie said Blair asked if Malaysia was strengthening border security following two kidnappings last year by Filipino Muslim gunmen from resort islands off eastern Sabah state.

"I told him we are always on alert and have boosted troop presence in the border areas such as along the Kalimantan area (on Borneo Island)," Shafie said.

Deputy army chief Lt. Gen. Abdul Aziz Hassan said on Monday the number of troops deployed in Sarawak and in neighboring Sabah state on Borneo needed to be increased because of security threats from Indonesia and the Philippines.

Officials said Malaysia would send 1,600 extra troops to Sarawak.

Shafie said he proposed to Blair that U.S. troops train at the jungle warfare school in the southern state of Johor. Soldiers from Australia, Britain and New Zealand along with Malaysians train at the school.

"The training would enable U.S. troops to develop a better understanding of the situation here and foster closer ties among the military personnel," Shafie said.

A military official later told reporters that Malaysia and the US would hold a major exercise from July 16 to 27. It would involve about 5,000 army, navy and air force personnel from the two countries.

A similar exercise was held last year but the official said U.S. submarines may take part this year for the first time.

Shafie also said Malaysia would host a United Nations- sponsored seminar on peacekeeping in April, with 32 countries taking part.

Malaysian troops have served in a variety of peacekeeping missions in the past decade. Blair is due to return to his headquarters in Hawaii on Friday.