Security monitoring cooperation in Sulu Sea to begin in June

KUALA LUMPUR: The tripartite cooperation involving Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines to conduct joint patrols and monitoring of the Sulu Sea is expected be launched in June.
Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) deputy chief, Datuk Anuwi Hassan said the cooperation was aimed at addressing the current security challenges in the area, such as kidnapping for ransom.
Anuwi said the operation would be launched by the defence ministers of the three countries.
"The presence of ships and aircraft from the three countries is expected to curb crime and ensure the Sulu Sea is safe for merchant ships," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after opening the 4th Regional Workshop on the Law of Armed Conflict at Sea, at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), here, today.
Isabelle Barras, head of delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was also present.
Twenty-eight senior navy officers from the Asia-Pacific region are participating in the five-day workshop co-organised by the RMN, UPNM and ICRC, which began yesterday. — Bernama