Round-the-clock surveillance to prevent another ‘Batu Puteh’, says Khaled

 

The navy has been monitoring the Melaka Straits, the South China, Sulu and Sulawesi seas following the recent sighting of a Chinese coast guard vessel in Sarawakian waters. (RMN pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has increased surveillance of its waters to prevent any encroachment, defence minister Khaled Nordin says, adding that he does not want a repeat of the “Batu Puteh” debacle.

Khaled said the navy has been monitoring the Melaka Straits, the South China, Sulu and Sulawesi seas around the clock following the recent sighting of a Chinese coast guard vessel in Sarawakian waters.

The surveillance was to detect any unusual activity or the presence of foreign warships, he said.

“Their (our navy’s) presence is vital to safeguard the country’s security and sovereignty. If they (the Navy) were not around, I worry it could end up like Batu Puteh,” he said, referring to the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling on Batu Puteh.

Khaled was speaking to reporters after an event in Sungai Besi, here.

In 2008, the ICJ decided that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore, Middle Rocks to Malaysia and South Ledge to the state in the territorial waters in which it is located.

Malaysia applied to the ICJ requesting an interpretation of the judgment in 2017.

In 2018, the Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led administration withdrew an application to overturn the ICJ ruling awarding legal jurisdiction of Batu Puteh to Singapore, a decision that was described last year by the then attorney-general Idrus Harun as improper.

Khaled went on to say that while the South China Sea was open to anyone, “parking a vessel” could be considered an intrusion.

Last week, the New Straits Times reported that the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency had carried out an operation near Beting Hampasan Banting, just off the coast of Sarawak, following the sighting of a China coast guard vessel.

Combat pool delay

Meanwhile, on a separate matter, Khaled said the failure of the appointed subcontractor to carry out tiling works was the cause of the delay in the construction of the combat diving pool at Iskandar Camp, Mersing, Johor.

“The combat diving pool project had a problem with the appointed subcontractor who could not carry out the work.

“The appointed contractors usually have the expertise and ability, and it is not easy to find a replacement, the process needs to be tendered so it takes time. We have received assurances from JKR (public works department) that this matter will be given special attention… I hope it can be implemented as soon as possible,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

Yesterday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim ordered the parties responsible for the construction of the combat training diving pool to explain the delay.

Sultan Ibrahim, who is the colonel commandant of the Special Forces Group (GGK), said the pool, which was supposed to have been fully completed by December 2022, is still under construction.

The combat diving pool is a facility that is much needed by the 21 GGK personnel to enhance individual and team competencies, especially in dealing with threats from the maritime domain.

The facility is also equipped with amenities such as a mock-up of a ship, an air entry point, and other basic operational support facilities. - FMT