MUAR: The Deputy Defence Minister, Adly Zahari, has stated that the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) is prepared to utilize its existing assets to safeguard the country’s waters and sovereignty. He emphasized that Mindef adheres to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982) and will protect the country’s sovereignty based on the law. Adly Zahari emphasized that Mindef’s main focus is the protection of the country’s waters and sovereignty, regardless of China’s view on the matter. The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has also highlighted the importance of defending Malaysia’s land and sovereignty.
Adly Zahari made these remarks on Saturday (Sept 2) after a meeting with veterans of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) at the Muar Branch of MAF Veterans Office. The President of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM), Datuk Sharuddin Omar, was also present during the meeting. On Monday, the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources published the “China Standard Map Edition 2023,” which includes the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) maritime areas of Malaysia near Sabah and Sarawak, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, as well as certain areas in India.
However, on Wednesday, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry announced that Malaysia does not recognize China’s claims in the South China Sea and stated that the published map holds no binding authority over Malaysia. The Malaysian government intends to send a protest note to China regarding their claims. Adly Zahari urged the 100,000 non-pensionable veterans to promptly register with the Department of Veteran Affairs (JHEV) to facilitate the distribution of aid, including the payment of Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) amounting to RM300 per month for non-pensionable veterans, which is scheduled to begin this month. – Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
