Malaysia Hopes Naval Spat With Indonesia Won't Escalate
April 11, 2005 5:25 a.m.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)--Malaysia's deputy leader expressed hope Monday that a naval confrontation with Indonesia in a disputed part of the Sulawesi Sea won't turn into a military conflict.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said the navy chiefs from the two countries would meet soon to ease tensions, brewing since Friday when a Malaysian patrol boat allegedly struck an Indonesian navy ship in the disputed waters.
"With restraint by both sides, based on the rules of engagement, I believe we can avert any untoward incident in the area," the national news agency Bernama quoted Najib as saying. "Let's hope there is no conflict between our forces and Indonesia's."
Indonesia said the two ships collided. But Malaysian navy chief Adm. Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Nor denied any collision took place, insisting on Sunday that the two vessels only "brushed" each other.
The incident took place close to the oil- and gas-rich area in the Sulawesi Sea off the eastern coast of Borneo island. Last month Malaysia awarded exploration rights to oil blocks in the region, prompting a tense standoff between Indonesian and Malaysian navy vessels. Each side accused the other of trespassing and violating maritime borders.
Najib, who is also defense minister, said Malaysia accepts the presence of Indonesian vessels in the area pending a diplomatic resolution on the overlapping claims.
Malaysia has enough vessels to patrol the disputed waters but wouldn't be drawn into any show of strength to stake its claim, Najib said.
"It is not our intention to edge towards conflict," Bernama quoted Najib saying. "Therefore, it is not a question of who has more vessels in the area. The point is we have agreed to resolve the issue through talks."
Before Friday's incident reignited tensions, the leaders of the two neighboring countries had agreed to work together. They set up a technical team to study the competing claims in the oil-rich area, which will hold its second meeting next month in Malaysia.
The oil fields are near the Sipadan and Ligitan islands, long disputed by the two countries. The International Court of Justice gave Malaysia sovereignty over the islands in 2002. But Indonesia says Malaysia's sea territory extends only 19 kilometers offshore.
