Malaysia steps up ways to ‘confront threats’ in South China Sea, but will this rock the boat?
“The 13th Malaysia Plan outlining the country’s latest five-year development includes the usual goals of economic growth, among others, but it is what Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said about defence and security that has caught observers by surprise.”
” ‘Readiness to confront sovereignty and security threats in the South China Sea will be intensified more comprehensively,’ he said when tabling the development roadmap in parliament on Jul 31.”
“Putrajaya is in the midst of adding long-range radars, long-endurance drones and a new naval base in Sarawak expected to be capable of launching submarines to boost its security posture in the South China Sea.”
“Malaysia’s EEZ comprises areas abundant in oil and gas that it says contribute almost 25 per cent to its gross domestic product (GDP). These include the Luconia Shoals, a group of mostly submerged reefs that lie between various Malaysian oil and gas sites 155km off the coast of Sarawak.”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-south-china-sea-claim-defence-anwar-ibrahim-5288436