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Experts warn of terrorism, piracy in Malacca Straits

Malaysia's top police official yesterday warned of a "real and possible" threat of terrorism in the Malacca Straits, one of the world's most vital trade-related waterways.

Inspector-General of the Royal Malaysian Police Musa Hassan said maritime security concerns included piracy and extortion of fishermen in the straits.

But touching on a topic rarely discussed by Malaysian officials, Musa said terrorist attacks on the crucial trade route would cripple economies globally, and he called for continued vigilance.

"Another threat which is real and possible that is lurking in the strait is maritime terrorism," Musa told a conference of maritime industry experts discussing security threats.

MARITIME TERRORISM

Forms of maritime terrorism of "particular concern" included attacks on ships, the hijacking of ships carrying dangerous materials and the use of vessels to attack ports or land facilities, Musa said.

"If terrorists were to command a ship transporting LPG [liquefied petroleum gas] for a suicide mission in the strait, such an act would devastate Southeast Asia's economic environment and severely disrupt trade," he said in his keynote address.

More than 30 percent of world trade passes through the Malacca Straits, and the volume of traffic has increased dramatically, up 42 percent from 44,000 ships in 1999 to 62,600 ships in 2005.

OIL

Half of the world's oil shipments also travel through the waterway, where piracy attacks have prompted concerns among East Asian nations who rely on fuel shipments.

"A significant impediment to the flow of oil would be a direct threat to the national security of countries that are highly dependent, particularly Japan and South Korea," Musa said.

"It would mean re-routing the vessels, which would lead to skyrocketing freight and insurance rates and ... a devastating global economic impact," he said.

Maintaining and securing the waterway has always been regarded as the responsibility of the littoral states who border the sea lane -- Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

STANDBY

Separately, Pottengal Mukundan, the London-based director of the International Maritime Bureau, which organized the conference, said that governments needed to stay on standby for any terror attacks.

"There is always the possibility of a terror attack. We need to be prepared for it," Mukundan said.

He also said the war against pirates was not over in the straits despite a fall in attacks in recent years after Indonesia boosted maritime patrols.

"There is no room for complacency. The moment the pirates sense law enforcement will not respond promptly, the attacks will resume," he told the conference.
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