Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR941
2008-10-24 08:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

MALAYSIA OPPOSED TO MANDATORY SCHEME FOR PILOTAGE

Tags:  EWWT PHSA PREL IMO MY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3133
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0941 2980851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240851Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1819
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2539
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2664
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0506
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0813
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2589
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000941 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS, OES/OA: GREG O'BRIEN AND L/OES: ASH ROACH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT PHSA PREL IMO MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA OPPOSED TO MANDATORY SCHEME FOR PILOTAGE
IN THE STRAIT OF MALACCA

REF: SECSTATE 112590

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000941

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS, OES/OA: GREG O'BRIEN AND L/OES: ASH ROACH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT PHSA PREL IMO MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA OPPOSED TO MANDATORY SCHEME FOR PILOTAGE
IN THE STRAIT OF MALACCA

REF: SECSTATE 112590


1. (SBU) Summary: Malaysia does not support mandatory
pilotage in the Straits of Malacca. However, DPM Najib
recently voiced GOM interest in setting shipping limits in
the Straits and has noted that GOM does not consider the
Straits of Malacca international waters, two policy views
with important potential international ramifications. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) Malaysian Ministry of Transportation Undersecretary
ABDULLAH Yusuff Bin Basiron told Econoff on October 23 that
an Indonesian proposal for pilotage service in the Straits of
Malacca has been discussed in previous Malacca Straits
Tripartite Technical Expert Group (TTEG) meetings, and will
be on the agenda of the upcoming meeting in Kuching, Malaysia
on October 28 - 29.


3. (SBU) Abdullah said that all discussions in the TTEG so
far have been about a voluntary system where any ships
requiring pilotage services can have access to a service that
the three states (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore) will
provide, if agreed upon by all three states. He said that he
is not aware of any mandatory system proposed, and that GOM
would not approve any such system.


4. (SBU) According to Abdullah, the GOM has not received any
information about a possible Indonesian proposal requiring
mandatory pilotage in this structure. He emphasized that
Malaysia understood its obligations under UNCLOS and would
not approve any mandatory pilotage scheme.


5. (SBU) Consistent with MoT's comments, Deputy Prime
Minister (DPM) Najib in his keynote address at the launching
of the Centre for Straits of Malacca on October 21, did not
make any references to a possible new pilotage scheme.
Instead, Najib highlighted three key factors GoM feels are
important to managing the Straits of Malacca: 1) ensuring
safety of navigation, 2) co-operation between the littoral
states, and 3) protecting the marine environment. The full
text of Najib's address was transmitted earlier in a DAO
telegram IIR 6 862 0023 09 dated October 23 and forwarded to
EAP/MTS via e-mail on October 21.


6. (SBU) Najib however did make two comments of possible
policy concern. He said that vessel traffic in the Straits
has increased from 43,965 in 1999 to 70,718 in 2007. GoM
believes that the capacity in the Straits of Malacca would
have to be jointly determined and not exceeded. He also
mentioned that as the Straits of Malacca is bordered by
Indonesia and Malaysia, their collective jurisdiction
encompasses a subtantial part of the Straits, and therefore
in the GoM view "the sea which constitutes the Straits of
Malacca is not international waters." (Comment: In recent
years in IMO fora and other venues, Malaysia has actively
opposed measures that might lead to an internationalization
of the Straits, particularly on security grounds. Malaysia
consistently argues that the littoral states are fully
capable of maintaining security in this vital waterway. End
Comment.)
KEITH