No unilateral decisions on Straits of Malacca, says Mohamad

 Foreign minister says decisions on the waterway must be made with the cooperation of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Asean is ‘entirely based’ on consensus.

KUALA LUMPUR:

 Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan says no unilateral decisions can be made regarding the Straits of Malacca, stressing Asean’s consensus-based approach to maintaining maritime security in the vital waterway.

Speaking as an additional guest speaker at the 10th Better Nation Forum on the impact of the US-Iran conflict on Malaysia, he said Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand shared a “watertight understanding” and conducted joint patrols to ensure safe passage through the strait.

“Whatever is to be done in the Straits of Malacca must involve the cooperation of all four countries. That is our understanding – it cannot be done unilaterally.

“When we entered into a joint agreement on patrols and the security of the Straits of Malacca, that was the basis – there are no unilateral decisions.

“Asean is entirely based on consensus. Even at the subcommittee level, everything is based on consensus,” he said.

His remarks came amid prolonged uncertainty over the geopolitical developments in West Asia, with potential impacts that could increase the risks to passage in other maritime chokepoints, including the Straits of Malacca.

He also said Malaysia would continue to empower the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality and prioritise Asean centrality in navigating an increasingly complex global landscape.

Malaysia must practise “active neutrality” and avoid being trapped in global political games, he said.

“We are a trading nation, our economy is an open economy, and we trade with everybody. We can’t afford to be seen as leaning towards anybody. Otherwise, our economy will be disrupted,” he said. - FMT