Malaysia's new maritime agency to start operation year end: Najib
AFP, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia's new maritime agency established to fight piracy, illegal fishing and environmental pollution will begin operation in November, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Saturday. Najib said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency would have 72 ships and more than 4,000 personnel to carry out its mission. Najib, who is also defence minister, said the agency would be placed under the prime minister's department and its main task was to ensure the maritime security of its territorial waters. Malaysia has recently come under pressure from the United States and Japan to beef up security in the narrow Malacca Strait after a spate of recent pirate attacks. The narrow 960-kilometre-long (600-mile) Malacca Strait, bordered by Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
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