KUALA LUMPUR: A joint-initiative on maritime security in the Sulu Sea is expected to be established in the next trilateral meeting on June 19 and 20.
The joint initiative aims to replicate the Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP) model, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein in the Dewan Negara today.
He said Malaysia hoped to seek cooperation with Indonesia and the Philippines Defence Ministries in terms of sea patrol, air surveillance or 'Eye in the Sky', intel-sharing, all of which were proven successful in curbing piracy in the Malacca Straits.
He said piracy cases have seen a reduction from 186 cases between 2000 and 2005 to 37 from 2006 to 2015, while no cases have been reported at the straits so far this year.
"At the national level, we hope to engage other security agencies like Esscom (the Eastern Sabah Security Command).
"(Individually), no country has sufficient military assets, but together we will be able to face threats, which is an advantage to us as we practise on Asean centrality," he said in response to a question by Senator Datuk Adam Abdul Hamid.
Hishammuddin, in a press conference later, said the private sector and relevant countries that have benefited from such initiatives should also look into ways to contribute.
"An example is the oil trade where the commodity is transported from the Middle East through the Malacca Straits to Japan and China," he said, adding that piracy is also linked to poverty and could be addressed with improvement of the people's economy and education.