AFX, KUALA LUMPUR: The US has offered to help ensure security in the pirate-plagued Malacca Strait as it renews a defence pact with Malaysia, Malaysian Defence Minister Najib Razak said.
US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick made the offer after witnessing the renewal of the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), a 10-year military logistics cooperation pact.
Zoellick had also touched on the sensitive issue of security in the Malacca Strait, where pirate attacks have raised fears terrorists could hijack an oil tanker and use it as an enormous bomb.
Najib said Zoellick had offered help which would not undermine the sovereignty of the three states bordering the busy shipping lane — Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Malaysia has in the past rejected suggestions that the US or other foreign navies be allowed to help patrol the strait.
'In what way and what areas they want to help is for the US to consider,' Najib was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.
The Malacca Strait is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, funnelling about a quarter of the world's trade, or 50,000 vessels a year.
Najib also said Malaysia had agreed to participate in the US port security initiative which aims to tighten security on all cargo heading for the US. This program would not involve an American presence in the region.
Malaysia has said in the past the presence of US forces in the Malacca Strait would heighten the risk of terrorism rather than reduce it.
