Abidin
KOTA KINABALU (Nov 21): The State Government is closely monitoring the South China Sea situation to ensure any issue can be promptly and efficiently dealt with without causing tension.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Abidin Madingkir, said they have been working with federal security agencies on issues related to national security and sovereignty in the country’s border areas, including the South China Sea in Sabah waters.
“Threats in the waters of the South China Sea are a complex and sensitive issue. It needs to be managed and coordinated with international diplomatic relations in a peaceful and rational manner to avoid the occurrence of tension in the field, in line with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. In this regard, the interests of the country will continue to be the main basis in any action taken on the issue of threats in the South China Sea.
“The State Government closely monitors any developments and the current situation in the area, which involves the cooperation of various ministries and related agencies either at the federal or the state level, to ensure that any issue is dealt with promptly and efficiently without causing any tension on the ground. Any situation that occurs in the South China Sea area can have implications, either directly or indirectly, on the security and the economy of the country in addition to being able to threaten its sovereignty” he said at the State Assembly question-and-answer session here today.
Abidin said the State Government together with the National Security Council (MKN) as the leading national security agency, is always proactive in coordinating the implementation of maritime operations through platforms such as the Maritime Operations Action Committee (JBOM) and the State Security Working Committee (JKKN).
He said the implementation of maritime operations in the South China Sea is carried out through a whole-of-government approach, to ensure that all government strategies and actions in the area are integrated and optimise the use of existing government-owned resources and assets.
“In the field, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) are always committed to continuing strategic operations in sensitive areas in the South China Sea by exhibiting a show of presence of the country’s air and maritime assets.
“The implementation of periodic patrols and operations by the national security agency team aims to ensure the safety of the country’s economic activities such as exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the area are always preserved at all times in addition to defending the country’s sovereignty.
“Several collaborations between state and federal agencies through integrated operations that also involve the Sabah Ports and Habours Department (JPDS), Sabah Fisheries Department, Malaysian Marine Department and Sabah Ports Authority are also implemented and strengthened every year.
“In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in collaboration with the State Government is active in submitting objections to any country that is found to be encroaching in Malaysian waters,” he said.
Abidin stressed that the Malaysia government defends the territories depicted in its New Malaysian Map 1979, in light of new Philippine maritime laws which was seen as an encroachment into the country’s waters.
“We already have our own map, and we will defend it. Whatever intrusion attempts made by other countries will not be recognised,” he said.
He was responding to Senallang assemblyman Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, who had asked on the coordination efforts between Sabah and federal authorities to guard Sabah’s maritime borders from threats in the South China Sea.
