No vessels equipped with nuclear warheads can pass through Malaysian waters without permission, says Tok Mat
Published on: Thursday, March 30, 2023
By: Malay Mail
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Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan says Malaysia abides by the principle of maintaining Asean as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan), which means the region remains free of nuclear weapons and their use. ― Bernama pic
Kuala Lumpur: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has assured Parliament that no vessels equipped with nuclear weapons are allowed to pass through Malaysian waters without the country’s permission.
He said Malaysia abides by the principle of maintaining Asean as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan), which means the region remains free of nuclear weapons and their use.
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“So the issue of us disagreeing with anyone (any countries) does not arise.
“We are in a neutral zone, and we want all parties to respect this, and if anyone wants to hold any (exercise) or pass through the waters (of countries), we respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“We have freedom of navigation and overflight but are subject to the terms under UNCLOS whereby they must seek permission from the countries whose waters they wish to pass through.
“There is no such thing as conducting an exercise without our knowledge,” Mohamad told Parliament during Minister’s Question Time today.
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He also explained that the eight nuclear-powered submarines to be purchased by Australia will have nuclear-powered engines but will not be armed with nuclear warheads.
Mohamad was responding to DAP’s Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng who asked the government to state its stance following the AUKUS (Enhanced Trilateral Security Partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States) defence pact.
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Under the pact, Australia will buy eight nuclear-powered submarines worth AUD368 billion, and Lim wanted to know their impact on the security of Asean countries based on Zopfan and whether the submarines will be allowed to operate in Asean waters.
The minister was also responding to a supplementary question by PAS’ Kota Baru MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan who asked how the government would ensure the country’s safety if the vessels had nuclear missile capabilities.
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