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ASEAN countries called to step up security cooperation in Malaka Strait

Xinhua, August 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Monday urged ASEAN member countries to boost security cooperation to prevent hijacking in one of the world's busiest shipping lane, Malaka Strait.

The vice president made the statement following the hijacking of Singaporean-flag ship MT Joaqim in the strait last week.

The countries could intensify joint patrol to restrict movement of hijackers from one country to another, said Kalla. "Joint patrol is the most effective. It can prevent hijackers from escaping from one country and hide in another country,"he said at ASEAN Secretariat Office.

Kalla said that cooperation along the borders had to be boosted too. "That is the importance of ASEAN cooperation. We will intensify such border cooperation to prevent the movement of the hijackers from one country to another country,"he added.

Singaporean tanker ship, MT Joaquim, was found 14 miles near Rupit Island of South Sumatra province, Indonesia on Sunday.

All the 3,500 ton fuel carried by the ship was stolen.

The ship from Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia to Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia, was allegedly hijacked on Saturday. Endi