Avoid Provocation In Overlapping Waters In Ambalat: Muhyiddin
MUAR, June 4 (Bernama) -- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called on all parties to avoid doing anything provocative in the disputed waters off Ambalat near Sabah which are believed to be rich in oil and gas.
The deputy prime minister said Malaysia had very good relations with Jakarta and did not want to cause any problem that could affect the relations.
"We want to avoid any form of provocation that can cause unpleasantness. We must handle the matter with caution," he told reporters after launching the Friend of the Environment and Smart School Environment award here today.
The overlapping claims over Ambalat by the two countries have again became a hot topic after the Indonesian media reported alleged encroachment by Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) ships in the area last week.
The Indonesian media claimed that an Indonesian navy ship patrolling the disputed waters last week was moments away from firing at an RMN patrol vessel after the latter allegedly ignored demands to retreat.
The incident was described as the worst since the overlapping claims surfaced.
Muhyiddin said the Malaysian security forces patrolling the Ambalat waters had performed their duties with responsibility and in accordance with the regulations.
"Both parties must avoid any action that can raise controversy," he said.
On the bilateral negotiations over the overlapping claims, he said the matter was being handdled by Foreign Ministry officials. However, he did not have the latest information on the status of the negotiations.
Earlier, in his speech, Muhyiddin said to tackle environmental problems and pollution should not be the sole responsibility of the government and all members of the society should pitch in.
"We live in the same environment, breathe the same air, share the use of the natural resources. If this earth is destroyed, then it's the end of the Homo sapiens species or the human race," he said, adding that the overall air quality in the country now was good.
With the enforcement of the Environmental Quality (Control of Petrol and Diesel Content) Regulations 2007 whereby EURO 2M fuel would be marketed from Sept 1, the sulphur oxide level would be lowered, further improving the country's air quality, he added.
He said the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry would step up enforcement on pollution of rivers, including implementing an integrated approach in managing river deltas and conducting public awareness programmes.
On the Friend of the Environment programme, he said it would set up in very parliamentary constituency.
-- BERNAMA- June 4, 2009
Sebagaimana lazimnya, media Indonesia akan berapi-api menyalakan provokasi sama ada melalui media cetak atau melalui blog-blog yang begitu bersemangat menyalakan api persengketaan terhadap Malaysia. Tetapi kepimpinan Malaysia dan juga Angkatan Tentera Malaysia bersikap tenang dan profesional. Media Malaysia juga tidak menjadikan isu ini untuk menjejaskan hubungan baik kedua negara.
Apabila dilihat kembali, episod terkini ini mungkin satu gerakan propaganda Pemilu Presiden yang dilihat sebagai satu peluang untuk pihak-pihak berkepentingan menonjolkan diri masing-masing. Calon-calon Pemilu Presiden seperti Megawati dan Jusuf Kalla mula mengeluarkan kenyataan-kenyataan yang dikira agak keras sehingga berani menyatakan jika langkah diplomatik gagal, langkah atau gerakan ketenteraan dilihat satu opsyen yang tidak mustahil.
Terkini, TNI dilaporkan menerima peningkatan bajet tambahan berjumah Rp10 trilion untuk peruntukan atau bajet pertahanan 2010. Sama ada peningkatan ini disebabkan keperluan semasa yang mendesak atau didorong juga dengan senario yang menyebabkan ahli perwakilan dewan terdorong atau tanpa ragu-ragu memberikan restu mereka.
Atur gerak TNI melalui TNI-AU dan TNI-AL, Korps Marinir dan juga pelbagai peralatan sokongan logistik, kapal dan sebagainya di kawasan Ambalat dilihat sebagai gerakan `show of force'. Menariknya tiada langsung sebarang berita berkenaan gerakan yang sama dilaksanakan oleh ATM sendiri di kawasan tersebut. KD Yu dan KD Baung yang merupakan FAC-M adalah kapal yang hanya dilengkapi meriam semata-mata dan kapal-kapal TLDM tersebut hanya melaksanakan tugasan rondaan harian sebagaimana lazimnya.
Tidak dapat dibayangkan jika TLDM mula mengarahkan Skuadron Kelas Laksamana untuk mula menyokong rondaan yang sama, kemungkinan separuh kekuatan TNI-AL akan diatur gerak ke kawasan Ambalat semata-mata.
Ini bermakna isu Ambalat ini harus diselesaikan secara bersama-sama dengan semangat ASEAN. Hubungan Malaysia Indonesia akan sentiasa dibelenggu konflik dan sebagainya kerana perhubungan yang rapat keduanya, bak kata pepatah `air dicincang takkan putus'. Tetapi Malaysia harus memastikan hak dan kedaulatan serta maruah negara tetap dipertahankan, apatah lagi segala kerenah dan tingkah laku rakyat Indonesia sendiri yang sentiasa tidak pernah habis-habis dengan slogan `Ganyang Malaysia!!'. TLDM juga mungkin perlu menggunakan isu ini untuk memohon agar peruntukan dapat dipertingkatkan juga. Terutama aset-aset permukaan TLDM bagi memastikan kuasa pemukul hadapan TLDM tetap jitu.
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