News Story: DFA - Cayetano's statement issued after consultations with Malaysia

By Patricia Lourdes Viray

MANILA, Philippines — The statement recently issued by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on the crisis in the Rakhine state in Myanmar was made after consultations with Malaysia, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

Other ASEAN foreign ministers, however, were aware that Malaysia would dissociate itself from the statement on the humanitarian situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

"ASEAN is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the northern Rakhine State and since Malaysia has different views on some issues, out of respect for its position, we decided that instead of a Foreign Ministers Statement, we would issue a Chairman's Statement that would reflect the general statements of the other foreign ministers," the DFA said in a statement.

Malaysia has dissociated itself with the ASEAN chairman statement which omitted the Rohingyas as one of the affected communities in the so-called "clearance operations" efforts by Myanmar authorities.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said Cayetano's statement was not based on consensus and that there was a "misrepresentation of the reality of the situation."

The DFA insisted that Cayetano's statement reflected the sentiments of the ASEAN foreign ministers who attended meetings about the issue on the sides of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Read the full story at PhilStar

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• Malaysia calls Cayetano's statement on Rohingya crisis a 'misrepresentation of reality'

News Story: Malaysia calls Cayetano's statement on Rohingya crisis a 'misrepresentation of reality'

By Gaea Katreena Cabico

MANILA, Philippines (Update 2, 10:51 a.m.) — Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano over the weekend released a statement as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on the crisis in Rakhine state without referring to violence against Rohingya Muslims.

Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim nation and a member of ASEAN, disassociated itself from the ASEAN chairperson's position and described it as a "misrepresentation of the reality of the situation."

Malaysia's Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman, in a strongly worded disavowal, said Cayetano's statement "was not based on consensus."

"The statement (of Cayetano) also omits the Rohingyas as one of the affected communities," Aman said in a statement on Sunday.

Before the chair's statement, ASEAN has kept mum on the crisis involving Bangladesh and member-state Myanmar. Even rarer still is Malaysia's public opposition in the Southeast Asian bloc known for its "flexible engagement," "non-interference" and consensus.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: 7 Filipino militant suspects arrested in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian police have detained seven Filipinos suspected of involvement with the Abu Sayyaf militant group, an official said Thursday, the latest arrest of extremist suspects in the Muslim-majority country.

The seven men, aged between 22 and 38, were working as private security guards in and around the capital Kuala Lumpur, said national police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

One had fought Filipino troops and was previously involved in abductions in the southern Philippines. Police did not give details about the other suspects.

The arrests last week bring to 41 the number of foreigners suspected of being "terrorist fighters" who have been detained in Malaysia this year, he said.

Fears have been growing in Malaysia that Muslim militants are ramping up their activities, inspired by the Islamic State group and a conflict in the Philippine city of Marawi between followers of the jihadists and authorities.

"The police will continue to launch operations to detect and catch foreign terrorist elements that infiltrate Malaysia," Mohamad Fuzi said in a statement.

Read the full story at PhilStar

USA: US, Malaysian navies begin bilateral maritime exercise

By Lt. Clyde Shavers, Destroyer Squadron 7 Public Affairs

In this file photo, USS Coronado (LCS 4) arrives in Langkawi, Malaysia, earlier this year for the International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. (U.S. Navy/MC2 Amy M. Ressler) >>

LUMUT, Malaysia - The U.S. and Royal Malaysian Navy kicked off Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Malaysia at Lumut Naval Base, Sept. 18.

Nearly 300 U.S. and Malaysian Sailors aboard the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4), Kasturi-class corvette KD Lekir (F26) and Lekiu-class frigate KD Lekiu (F30) are participating in the exercise.

“The U.S. and Royal Malaysian Navy maintains a close and unique partnership that continues to grow and evolve with each bilateral and multilateral exercise,” said Capt. Matthew Jerbi, deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. “MTA Malaysia is just one of many opportunities for both navies to work closely together towards cooperatively ensuring regional maritime security and stability.”

News Story: Malaysia, US vow to enhance cooperation in fighting IS

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysia and the US plan to enhance cooperation in a range of fields, including the fight against the growing threat of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) in Southeast Asia.

In a joint statement issued following the talks between Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and US President Donald Trump at the White House on September 13, the two leaders noted Malaysia's pledge of 1 million USD for humanitarian assistance in areas liberated from IS.

While pledging to strengthen bilateral defense ties, the two leaders underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in priority areas, including maritime security, counter-terrorism and information sharing between their defence and security forces.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

News Story: Ex-AUM doctor helps with Malaysia's probe into Kim Jong Nam assassination

Kim Jong-Nam (Image: Flickr User - Conecta Abogados)

A former doctor of the AUM Shinrikyo doomsday cult has provided articles he wrote to the Malaysian government in cooperation with its investigation into the deadly VX nerve agent attack on the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, it has been learned.

Tomomasa Nakagawa, 54, a former AUM Shinrikyo executive who was sentenced to death for murder using VX nerve agent and other charges, received an inquiry about VX poisoning from the counterterrorism unit of the Malaysian government and sent his articles he had contributed to the Japanese monthly journal "Chemistry Today," according to Colorado State University professor emeritus Anthony Tu.

According to Tu, an 87-year-old leading toxicologist originally from Taiwan, Nakagawa received written inquiries from the Malaysian government via a United Nations organization sometime after April. The Malaysian government has been investigating the broad-daylight murder of Kim Jong Nam, half-brother of the North Korean leader, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February.

During a meeting with Tu on Sept. 11 at Tokyo Detention Center, Nakagawa confessed his aspirations to write a report in English focusing on AUM Shinrikyo crimes using VX nerve agent, which the former cultist was involved in. Tu has interviewed Nakagawa since 2011 for counterterrorism purposes, and the latest meeting was the 12th of its kind. Tu has also cooperated with Japanese police in its investigation into the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system and other crimes perpetrated by AUM Shinrikyo.

Read the full story at The Mainichi

News Story: Malaysia foils attempted hijacking of Thai oil tanker

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Thai oil tanker and 14 crew members onboard were rescued near the northeast coast of Malaysia on Thursday, hours after they were hijacked by a group of pirates, said the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Thursday evening.

The ship, MT Tanker MGT1, carried around 2.2 million liters of diesel with an estimated value of 7 million ringgit (1.66 million U.S. dollars) when it disappeared from the Auto Identification System on Wednesday afternoon, said the MMEA in a statement.

With the help of an aircraft, a MMEA Special Task and Rescue Team managed to locate and successfully board the tanker and arrested 10 suspects onboard.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Disputed Asian Sea Fails Despite 2 Decades of Discussion

Ralph Jennings

TAIPEI — Countries with competing claims to the South China Sea have failed to start joint resource projects with the strongest one, China, despite discussions over the past two decades, as they fear unequal results or a loss of sovereignty.

Front-line countries in Southeast Asia worry they would take a minor role compared to China or end up ceding marine resources because China is bigger and more advanced.

“Other countries are still expecting Beijing to be more of a responsible stakeholder in terms of their performance and behavior in the South China Sea,” said Andrew Yang, secretary-general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies think tank in Taiwan.

China in turn may suspect that domestic politics in a democratic country such as the Philippines could disrupt a deal, experts say.

News Story: Indonesia backs establishment of joint special forces to battle IS

JAKARTA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is ready to discuss a plan for setting up joint special forces to fight the Islamic State (IS) militants and pirates in the region, a government official said on Tuesday.

The plan, which is aimed at combating the IS militants in the borders of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, was initiated by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Indonesia is ready at any time to guard this region," Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: 19 terror suspects detained in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian authorities had detained 19 suspects for terror-related activities, including eight Abu Sayyaf militants, the Malaysian police said on Tuesday.

The suspects, 11 foreigners and eight Malaysians, were arrested in a series of counter-terrorism operations in several Malaysian places between July 4 and Aug. 30, newly-appointed Malaysian police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun said in a statement.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Task Group deployment to strengthen regional military cooperation

An Australian Defence Force (ADF) Joint Task Group, Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017, departed Sydney today to participate in a series of key military exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Running from 4 September to 26 November, Indo-Pacific Endeavour will focus on enhancing military cooperation with some of Australia’s key regional partners including Brunei, Cambodia, the Federated States of Micronesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

More than 1200 ADF personnel will participate in the deployment, which is being led by Canberra-class amphibious assault ship HMAS Adelaide.

HMAS Adelaide will be accompanied at various stages of the deployment by HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Darwin, HMAS Toowoomba, HMAS Parramatta, and HMAS Sirius, making this the biggest coordinated task group deployment since the early 1980s.

Minister Payne said the Indo-Pacific Endeavour deployment, which has been in planning for over 12 months, was part of ongoing efforts to enhance and develop strong positive relations with regional militaries through both dialogue and practical activities.

News Story: Phl, Malaysia, Indonesia eye joint border counter-terror patrols

By Alexis Romero 

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are eyeing a joint task force against security threats and may open their borders to each other to chase terrorists and other armed groups, President Duterte said. 

Duterte said he would meet with Indonesia President Joko Widodo and Malaysia President Najib Razak to thresh out the details of the border cooperation deal. 

“We have agreed that we will talk… the three of us… We are just waiting for the right timing,” the President told journalists in Davao City Saturday night. 

“In all probability, it will be like a joint task force. And I will open my borders to the Malaysian authorities and Indonesian authorities, and… they’ll be given access.

“If we are chasing someone and there is no more time, we can hit him. Even if he’s a Filipino, we can tell them ‘hit him’ or Indonesian here, we can hit him,” he added. 

Duterte said the meeting may be held near the Philippine shore, in Sabah or in Jakarta. 

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: 6 Malaysians, 2 Filipinos detained over linkage to terrorist activities

MANILA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian police have detained six Malaysians and two Filipinos suspected of linking to terrorist activities in that country, a spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Sunday.

Quoting anonymous military sources, AFP Public Affairs Chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the terror suspects were detained last month by Royal Malaysian Police in Taman Desa Baiduri, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur.

He said the group is under custody at an undisclosed detention facility in the Malaysian capital, and now facing "charges for violating Malaysian statues."

"We have received reports from military sources confirming the arrests (of Malaysians and Filipinos). The group was collared for alleged involvement in and linkages to terrorist activities in that country," Arevalo said in a statement.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia plan meet on international terrorism

By Alexis Romero

MANILA, Philippines — The leaders of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia may meet to discuss international terrorism, President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday, as Filipino troops plan their final assault against Islamic State-styled militants in Marawi City.

Duterte said he and Indonesian President Joko Widodo are still awaiting word from Malaysia President Najib Razak on the meeting.

“Widodo and I have yet to hear from Najib. He wants us, the three of us to meet somewhere to talk about this new phenomenon of international terrorism,” the president said during the oath-taking of newly-promoted police officials in Malacañang.

“It seems that we are back into the stages of the old world. Like pirates, of which they are really are… They kill and they just want to destroy,” he added.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Australia offers to train Philippine troops in IS fight

SYDNEY – Australia yesterday offered to help train Philippine troops to tackle Islamic militants terrorizing parts of the country as it calls the threat “deeply concerning.”

Philippine forces have been fighting militants in Marawi City for almost 100 days. But the gunmen, flying the Islamic State (IS) group’s black flag, have defied military assaults, including airstrikes and artillery barrages.

Australia, which has an extensive defense cooperation program with Manila, has already deployed two high-tech AP-3C Orion aircraft for surveillance and is keen on providing more help.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she recently spoke to President Duterte, who wanted to bolster resources for his armed forces.

“We would be ready to support the Philippines in the same way we are supporting Iraq in advising, assisting and training,” she said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

USA: SEACAT enhances cooperative maritime security in South, Southeast Asia

From Task Force 73 Public Affairs

Liaison officers coordinate exercise activities during SEACAT, Aug. 28 at Changi Naval Base in Singapore. (U.S. Navy/MC2 Joshua Fulton) >>

SINGAPORE - The 16th annual Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise commenced Aug. 21 in Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines, focusing on shared maritime security challenges of the region.

The goal of the exercise, which continues through Sept. 1, is to increase multilateral cooperation and information sharing among navies and coast guards across South and Southeast Asia. The exercise will continue through Sept 1.

"SEACAT brings nations together for meaningful dialogue, knowledge sharing, and practical training to address common challenges of piracy, sea smuggling, and other illegal activities at sea," said Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOGWESTPAC). "We appreciate that regional nations see the value in working together, evidenced by a growing number of participants.

News Report: Activists Concerned Over Rohingya Minority Situation in Myanmar

Activists supporting Muslim minority in Myanmar are concerned about the situation in the state of Rakhine in the light of the recent attacks on security posts and the use of military forces.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The European Rohingya Council (ERC), a group of activists supporting the interests of Rohingya Muslim minority living in Myanmar's state of Rakhine, expressed concern in connection to the recent attacks in the region and the armed forces' response.

"We, the undersigned Rohingya organizations and communities worldwide are deeply concerned with the recent developments following clashes in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar on August 25, 2017," the group said on Sunday.

Its statement called on the international community to protect Rohingya civilians, adding that the Myanmar military appeared to be using "disproportionate force" against them.

The statement was signed by several other organizations from various parts of the world supporting the Rohingya minority.

More than 70 people were killed in Friday coordinated attacks on security posts in Rakhine.

The state has experienced tensions between Muslim and Buddhist communities, with attacks on security posts or military targets prompting harsh response from the country's armed forces. Many Muslim families have fled to Bangladesh and Malaysia, seeking asylum.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Report: Malaysian Prime Minister to Visit White House in September

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak
(Image: Wiki Commons)

U.S. President Donald Trump will host Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for talks at the White House next month.

The White House announced the visit late Wednesday, saying Trump looks forward to discussing strengthening relations with “one of America’s closest partners in Southeast Asia.”

Malaysia’s foreign ministry said the leaders would further talk about national security, combating terrorism and extremism, and trade.

Relations between the United States and Malaysia warmed after Najib and former U.S. President Barack Obama took office in 2009. Obama became the first U.S. leader to visit Malaysia in more than 50 years when he traveled there in 2014.

But a massive corruption scandal involving a state investment fund founded by Najib has caused strains with the U.S. and other countries investigating allegations of embezzlement and money laundering.

The U.S. Justice Department has tried to seize $1.7 billion in assets linked to the probe.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing.

This story first appeared on Voice of America & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: Malaysia launches its first French-designed LCS as Navy moves to modernize

Maharaja Lela LCS/Corvette under-construction

By: Mike Yeo

MELBOURNE, Australia ― Malaysia has launched the first of its new littoral combat ships ordered under a $2 billion contract signed in 2011, as the Southeast Asian country continues its drive to modernize its navy.

The ship, named the Maharaja Lela, was launched Thursday at the facilities of builder Boustead Naval Shipyard in Lumut, Malaysia, in a ceremony attended by Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy Adm. Kamarulzaman Bin Haji Ahmad Badaruddin.

Malaysia’s LCS design is based on the French Gowind 2500 corvette, and the first ship is expected to enter service with the Royal Malaysian Navy in the first half of 2019. All six of the program’s ships are scheduled to be in service by 2023. Boustead had laid the keel of the second ship in February this year.

The 3,100-ton ship incorporates stealth characteristics, and its primary armament consists of a single BAE Systems Mk3 57mm gun in a stealthy turret; a 16-cell Sylver vertical launching system for the MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missile; and a pair of quadruple launchers for the Kongsberg anti-ship Naval Strike Missile. Additionally, a pair of MSI Seahawk 30mm cannons and two J+S Marine triple torpedo launchers are also fitted.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Multinational search for missing US Navy sailors expands in Asia

USS John S. McCain (Image: Wiki Commons)

By: Mike Yeo

MELBOURNE, Australia – The multinational search and rescue for sailors missing from the U.S. Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain following a collision with an oil tanker near Singapore has expanded, even as remains of some of the missing have been located inside the flooded compartments of the ship.

Both Singapore and Malaysia have increased the number of assets taking part in the SAR operations for the 10 sailors initially reported missing following the collision, while Indonesia has also started scouring the waters off its islands closest to where the collision occurred. Australia has also offered an aircraft to assist in the search, according to a media statement from Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority on Tuesday.

The new, expanded search area covers more than 1,100 square miles, with Singapore and the U.S. covering the center of the identified search area while Malaysian and Indonesian assets are covering the north and south.

The collision occurred in waters where there is an unresolved maritime boundary dispute between Singapore and Malaysia, and both have said the collision occurred in their respective territorial waters and have laid claim to leading the search operation. That said, the disagreement has not interfered with the search operation so far.

U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopters and Marine Corps MV-22 tiltrotors from the amphibious assault ship USS America are also involved in the search, while the Republic of Singapore Air Force has deployed a C-130 transport and a Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft to join two patrol vessels each from the Singapore Navy and police coast guard already on scene. A Singaporean Super Puma helicopter had earlier evacuated four of the five sailors injured in the collision to a hospital on Monday morning.

Read the full story at DefenseNews