Piracy Issue To Be Raised At Asean Summit

Bernama, February 25, 2009 15:56 PM 

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will raise the issue of piracy in the Somalian waters at the three-day 14th Asean Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand which begins this Friday. 

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said pirates did not only threathen Malaysian vessels but also those of other Asean countries including Singapore. 

He said although the United Nations had passed a resolution to end piracy there the reality was that it was still widespread. 

As such Malaysia will initiate various efforts on the matter including using the summit to discuss the issue and getting agreement among Asean countries on the matter, Rais told reporters after launching two ministerial publications which were 'Asean Record' and the book 'Malaysia-Europe: Strategic Partnerships for the Pacific Century, here today. 

Rais said an anti-piracy seminar would be held in Kuala Lumpur in May to be attended by various countries and Malaysia would continue to propose constructive preventive steps to overcome piracy. 

Meanwhile, Rais said at the summit Malaysia would also attend meetings at various levels to discuss an Asean human rights body whose setting up would take at least a year. 

"We have formed a high level panel, consisting of legal experts, officials from various ministries of the member states, the Secretary-General's office in Jakarta but to date we have not accepted any specific projects, programmes, or interpretations (regarding human rights in Asean). 

"But we are quite sure that the human rights concept and implementation of its projects will have to be in conformity with the societies of Asean states," he said. 

Besides that, Rais said the delegation to be led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was expected to discuss the matter of Rohingya refugees, the Asean progress map declaration for the future, and also obstacles faced by the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) which was set up in 2003. 

He said the prime minister would also be involved in various discussions on the global economic situation and suggestions and proposals from the Asean Finance Ministers' meeting on Feb 22. 

On the Asean Record published in Bahasa Malaysia, Rais said it would distributed to schools, non-governmental organisations, public libraries and the like to enhance people's understanding on Asean relations and his ministry would also have various fora on it. 

He said the book titled Malaysia-Europe: Strategic Partnerships for the Pacific Century by noted intellectual Dr Corrado Letta suggests steps to enhance and strengthen bi-lateral Malaysia-Europe relations.