Note this is at least the 2nd time
within this week that two Malaysian cabinet ministers had publicly
referred on "forward defence" of "a neighbouring country."
Their defence minister's "clear warning" is a followup on Dr
Mahathir threat of a "bloodied nose" .
Having declared that Malaysia is not interested in referring
to PCA (formerly ICJ) for the water pricing resolution, it is
apparent that Malaysia may likely enact its own law to by-pass the
Water Agreement with Singapore, hence forcing the later to
react.
The Malaysian government seems prepared to risk this path and test
the Republic's resolve in carrying out her open-secret defence
doctorine.Or it can be another wayang show of escalation
considering the fact the Malaysia has limited her choice over water
negotiation after having backed away from her earlier position to
settle the water issue via peaceful means.
We are at risky times.
January 02 , 2003 19:53PM
Face Military Might If M'sia's
Sovereignty Breached, Says Najib
PRESS CONFERENCE...
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak answering questions at
a press conference held at the Defence Ministry, Kuala Lumpur,
Thursday. Also present is Armed Forces Chief Gen Tan Sri Mohd
Zahidi Zainuddin.
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- Any attempt by any neighbouring
country to violate Malaysia's sovereignty on the basis of "forward
defence" will be handled by the armed forces with all its military
might, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said
Thursday.
He said the armed forces warned any country with the "forward
defence" doctrine not to try to breach the land, air and sea
sovereignty of Malaysia.
"We'll use all our military power to defend our independence and
sovereignty if any country wants to implement "forward defence" or
launch pre-emptive strikes.
"We're giving a clear
warning," he told a media conference at his
ministry.
He said the armed forces had thorough military planning if Malaysia
faced threats from a neighbouring country as a result of
implementing a defence doctrine that breached Malaysia's
sovereignty.
"We have our plans but there is no need for me to reveal them. If
we are under threat, we'll respond," said Najib, without
elaborating on the plans.
Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad
yesterday exposed the plan by certain countries which wanted to use
Malaysia as their battlefield in the event of
war.
The Prime Minister said these countries believed that by adopting
such a strategy, they would be able to prevent the horror of war
from reaching their shores.
Najib said the "forward defence" concept was not something new to
the armed forces and it did not pose a threat to any country if it
was only a plan.
"But if the concept is executed and violated the sovereignty of
this country, then we'll take action," he said.
Asked whether Malaysia need to increase its defence budget to
acquire more modern weaponry systems, he said the armed forces
would buy new weapon systems if the country's financial situation
permitted it.
He, however, said the situation in Malaysia had not reached a war
footing stage.
"We are not in a war footing yet to the extent of postponing
developments in other fields to acquire weapons for the armed
forces," he said.
Asked whether Malaysia needs to change its defence policy to handle
the "forward defence" threat, Najib said the armed forces defence
policy and strategies suited the current situation.
Asked whether the military intelligence had received reports or
information on the "forward defence" plan by a neighbouring
country, he said: "Maybe there is. If the Prime Minister says so,
there must be some basis to it."
To a question whether foreign spies had sneaked into Malaysia to
lay out the plans to use Malaysia as a battlefield, he said the
armed forces had not detected anything so far.
On criticism that the country was too soft in handling its problems
with a neighbouring nation, Najib said Malaysia did not want to be
involved in any conflict or war.
He also said the Royal Malaysian Navy was investigating the
incident of a navy personnel who was found in southern Philippines
recently after he fell off from a moving navy ship. --
BERNAMA
