KUALA LUMPUR - Military diplomacy can ensure the
safety, security and stability of the disputed maritime South China Sea, said
Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar.
He also said the armed forces, especially navies of
littoral states, should regularly hold forums and exercises to comprehend
sentiments and issues with overlapping territorial claims.
Aziz added that the Asia-Pacific nations were aware
of the issue of the Spratly Islands, a group of reefs, shoals and islands rich
in oil and gas that posed as a flashpoint of conflict.
China and the Philippines are engaged in a tense
territorial dispute over the Scarborough Shoal, with each threatening to go on
the offensive.
"While the presence of the United States
Pacific fleet is a stabilising factor, dialogues (like the Asean Regional
Forum, Asean Defence Ministers Meeting, Asian Navy Chiefs Meeting and Western
Pacific Naval Symposium) are ideal platforms to ease tensions," Aziz said
in an interview in conjunction with the 78th anniversary of the RMN at the
Defence Ministry headquarters.
The theme for this year's celebrations is "An
innovative force brings greater transformation".
On the RMN's two submarine squadrons, KD Tunku Abdul
Rahman and KD Tun Razak, Aziz said they were operating satisfactorily after
being in service for three years.
"Suffice to say, the submarines have passed
stringent operational tests, including that in tropical waters, and taken part
in defence exercises and high-performance special operations.
"Wegot the thumbs-up not only from theking
(supreme commander of the Armed Forces) and sultan of Selangor (RMN
captain-in-chief) but also from the Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli
Mohd Zin) and opposition leaders (like Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and
his two deputies).
The RMN's fleet modernisation programme included the
acquisition of a submarine escape and rescue vessel, anti-submarine warfare
helicopters, the second batch of six littoral combatant ships maritime patrol
aeroplanes and training vessels.
"While awaiting delivery of these assets,
friendly navies (like the USare prepared to assist us to recover our vessels
and crew should any untoward incident occur," Aziz said.
We are also negotiating to acquire refurbished
second-hand vessels to expedite delivery. Otherwise, it will take up to four
years to build new vessels." he added.
Aziz said the Malaysian International Shipping
Corporation (MISC) and the RMN had successfully implemented Ops Fajar since
2008 to thwart pirate attacks on Malaysian cargo ships plying the Gulf of Aden,
with goods valued at more than US$20 million (S$25 million).
"The series of 54 anti-piracy Naga Emas
exercises conducted here since 2007 has ensured their operational readiness.
"The presence of commandos with the special
protection team onboard RMN auxiliary escort vessels has prevented any
hijackings, including the arrest of seven Somali pirates who attempted to
capture MT Bunga Laurel on Jan 21 last year.
"The auxiliary vessel, Bunga Mas 5, successfully
escorted 219 MISC ships in 2009 and 2010, while Bunga Mas 6 escorted 32 MISC
ships last year.-"
He also commended RMN vessels KD Mahawangsa, KD
Lekiu, KD Jebat and KD Kelantan for rescuing the hijacked MT Nautica Johor
Bahru in the South China Sea on Oct 29 last year.
Hesaid the RMN Super Lynx and Fennec helicopter
squadrons carried out 16 medical evacuations and mercy flights last year.
Adrian David
New Straits Times
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