RI, Malaysia, Singapore start cooperative mechanism on Malacca Straits

The implementation of the Cooperative Mechanism for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore was officially announced here at a forum on Tuesday, Nanyang Siang Pau said.

The implementation would strengthen the roles of the three littoral states of the Straits in safeguarding one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, Malaysian Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat said when he officiated the forum on the mechanism.

The mechanism is said to be an initiative under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which was adopted 26 years ago with an aim to promote voluntary cooperation between the littoral states and users of the Straits in enhancing safety of navigation and environmental protection of the Straits.

Under the cooperative mechanism, the three littoral states and user states of the Straits agreed to set up the Aid to Navigation Fund, which will be managed by Malaysia for the next three years on a rotating basis.

Ong said that the fund so far had received 3.6 million U.S. dollars contributed by the littoral states and various user states and the fund would be used for physical maintenance projects.

Under the mechanism ...