PN urges govt to clarify US naval presence in Malaysian waters

 Two US littoral combat ships were spotted docked at the North Butterworth container terminal on Sunday.

PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said maintaining Malaysia’s credibility internationally would depend on ensuring consistency between its stated principles and its actions on the ground.

PETALING JAYA:

 Perikatan Nasional (PN) has called on the government to provide a detailed explanation regarding the presence of US naval assets in Malaysian waters.

The New Straits Times today reported that two US littoral combat ships were spotted docked at the North Butterworth container terminal on Sunday. Configured for minesweeping duties, the vessels were previously deployed in the Middle East.

While defence minister Khaled Nordin said the two ships complied with established Malaysian procedures, PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said such reports had led to concerns over potential contradictions in Malaysia’s neutral stance in the Middle East war.

Takiyuddin said while PN welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that Malaysia would play no part in the war, the presence of US naval assets in Malaysian waters raised questions about whether Malaysia was facilitating, or indirectly involved in military operations linked to the conflict.

The Kota Bharu MP urged the government to clarify the purpose, status, and route of the US naval assets, including whether they are in transit to or from operational areas such as the Strait of Hormuz, and how their presence aligns with Malaysia’s policy of non-alignment.

“In the context of current geopolitical developments, such assets are often associated with operations in critical passages such as the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a hotspot in the US-Iran military conflict,” Takiyuddin said.

“The presence of these assets in Malaysian waters… could create perceptions that contradict Malaysia’s neutral stance, potentially undermining public confidence and the country’s international image.

“Malaysia’s credibility depends heavily on the consistency between its stated principles and actual actions on the ground.”

In a New Straits Times report today, Khaled said the two ships had observed Malaysia’s official protocols surrounding such visits, going on to note that naval vessels worldwide routinely make port calls for logistical purposes such as replenishment before continuing to their destinations.

Malaysia’s ports regularly host foreign naval vessels due to the strategic importance of the Strait of Malacca. Recent visits include the South Korean navy’s ROKS Kang Gam-chan in March, Russian navy ships in February, and previous US Navy aircraft carriers such as USS Nimitz, USS Carl Vinson, and USS Abraham Lincoln. - FMT