MALAYSIA, Indonesia and the Philippines will be reviewing their trilateral cooperation agreement (TCA), which focuses on defence and security in the Sulu Sea.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the defence leaders of the three countries will meet tomorrow, on the sideline of the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition and conference.

“I would like to announce that there will be a TCA meeting with defence leaders from Indonesia and the Philippines… to review the understanding between the three countries in the Sulu Sea, following threats there.

“This TCA was established much earlier, and a review is needed to expand the security of the three countries,” he told a press conference today.

He said the agreement previously aimed to counter threats faced in the waters of the three nations, but it will now focus on how to navigate geopolitics, internal security and other issues.

“When it comes to internal security issues, we will discuss hostages and kidnappings, and the violence taking place in our waters with Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin and his counterparts.

“The approach needs to be bold and creative, and forward-focused. We already have a prior agreement; we just want to review it.

“We have joint air and maritime patrols between the three countries, and will discuss ground exercises.”

Hamzah said all parties should pay attention to border security issues.

“The best example is Op Benteng, conducted over the past two years, which proves that both ministries managed to do it together. When it comes to defending national borders, we have to do it together.

“Because of that, we will come up with a comprehensive plan to submit to the government.

“Focus will be placed on all borders, including Malaysia-Thailand, Sarawak-Kalimantan, Straits of Malacca and rat routes in Batam, Indonesia.”

The DSA and National Security Asia 2022 exhibitions will take place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre from tomorrow to Wednesday.

Both exhibitions are open to high-level delegations, government employees, enforcement agencies, police, as well as professionals and executives in defence and security industries. – March 27, 2022.