Singapore welcomed an Indonesian proposal for joint patrols to protect the pirate-infested Malacca Straits, which is regarded as a vulnerable target for maritime terrorist attacks.

While emphasising Singapore had also been heavily pushing for joint co-operation, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said Indonesian navy chief Bernard Kent Sondakh's comments last week were a positive development.

"We welcome the proposal from the Indonesian navy chief for greater maritime cooperation for the security of the Malacca and Singapore Straits, among the three littoral states," Teo told reporters.

Sondakh said on Thursday his country had suggested a joint task force involving Indonesian, Singaporean and Malaysian forces to guard the strait.

"All this time we have had good cooperation with Malaysia and Singapore. If the task force is established, automatically security in the Malacca Straits will be strengthened," Sondakh said.

The narrow, 960-kilometre waterway, through which about half the world's oil supplies and a third of global trade passes, runs along the coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

More help needed

While welcoming the Indonesian proposal, Teo cautioned that the three nations could not secure the waterways alone.

"It's also very important to recognize that the international community - shippers, the IMO (International Maritime Organisation), trading nations, port users and so on, are also involved in this security issue," he said.

"Because they also have a very important role to play and I hope that they will be able to work together with the littoral states to improve security in the Malacca Straits."

The issue of outside help has become a highly emotive issue after the commander of US forces in the Pacific, Admiral Thomas Fargo, suggested in April that US marines and other forces might help patrol the strait.

Indonesia and Malaysia have repeatedly declared that no foreign forces will be allowed on the waterway, leading to the United States to distance itself from the proposal and instead promote intelligence sharing and training. - AFP