Don't downplay threats Chinese vessels pose in M'sian waters - MP

An opposition MP today accused the government of attempting to downplay the threats posed by the incursion of Chinese vessels into Malaysian waters.

Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said this in response to Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari's statement yesterday, who said the situation in the South China Sea is safe and under control.

“The Alor Gajah MP (Adly) has indirectly downplayed the seriousness of threats on our territorial waters, especially in Luconia Shoals and Beting Patinggi Ali by saying only Chinese coast guards are present there, not their naval forces.

“Adly should be more careful when issuing statements by considering the facts at hand and the threats we face.

“As a deputy defence minister for the last two years, Adly should understand the strategy being used by the Chinese government since 2009 in placing its vessels on our territorial waters is to make assertive claims,” Wan Fayhsal (above) said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Adly also told the Dewan Rakyat that based on relevant agencies' threat assessments, the country’s waters remain free and open to the maritime community.

He clarified that reports concerning the presence of Chinese maritime assets on the country’s maritime border primarily involved its coast guard, not its naval warships.

“While the presence of Chinese vessels in our waters has sparked controversy, they have yet to take any aggressive actions against us, unlike what has been reported with other nations.

“Nonetheless, the Defence Ministry remains fully committed to protecting the country’s sovereignty and ensuring that our defence assets are maintained at an optimal level to face any potential threats, particularly in the South China Sea,” he was reported as saying.

Remember West Capella incident?

Unimpressed, Wan Fayhsal, who also chairs the opposition’s international affairs portfolio, said there was nothing safe and secure about the presence of Chinese coast guards in Malaysian waters.

He pointed out an incident in 2020 when Petronas’ research vessels in West Capella were aggressively disturbed daily by the Chinese coast guards when conducting seismic survey activities.

Wan Fayhsal reminded the government that back then, the Chinese coast guards were backed by its naval and para-military ships.

“Doesn’t the deputy minister understand that the presence of the Chinese vessels in our waters is an attempt to enforce their own maritime laws?

“It’s a direct challenge to our sovereignty and also an illegal act under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.

“His statement is insensitive towards the sacrifices made by our security forces in protecting our territory. I urge Adly to go down to the ground and see for himself that the threat is real, not mere polemics,” he added.

In April 2020, Reuters reported that two US warships were deployed to West Capella amid a standoff between China and Malaysia.

The US State Department has said that China was taking advantage of the region's focus on the coronavirus pandemic to "coerce its neighbours".

Last year, the Malaysian navy was forced to deploy KD Kelantan to Beting Patinggi Ali after Chinese coast guard vessels were spotted there.

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