Singapore, Thailand to be invited as observers for Sulu Sea patrol

Malaysia plans to invite Singapore and Thailand to become observers for security patrols in the Sulu Sea, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He put forward the proposal to Singapore Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen during their bilateral meeting here, Monday.

"We have cooperated with Singapore and Thailand to monitor the security aspects in the Straits of Malacca before, so I believe this approach can be implemented based on the experiences they have.

"If we succeed in carrying out the proposed patrols with the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei with Singapore and Thailand as observers, I feel this it will be a major contribution from the Defence Ministry and Malaysian Armed Forces towards security in the Sulu Sea," he said.

He said this to reporters after opening the Malaysian Defence and Security Hall (MDaS) at the 2016 Asia Defence Service Exhibition at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

On Saturday, Hishammuddin had suggested to the Defence Ministers of the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei on patrols and monitoring with neighbouring countries to tackle piracy and kidnapping in the Sulu Sea.

He said the approach which was implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to tackle piracy in the Straits of Melaka had succeeded in reducing piracy in the waters of the Strait.

Asked if the ministry had identified assets to be procured during the exhibition, he said it need not necessarily be during the exhibition but depended on the threat to the country.

"We identify the assets and at the same time we must identify the threat faced based on networking sessions with foreign countries (at the exhibition)," he said.

The exhibition which started Monday saw participation from 60 countries.