KUALA LUMPUR: The contentious nine-dash line will be among the areas of focus raised by Malaysia when the country assumes the Asean chairmanship next year, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin (pic) stressed that Malaysia does not recognise China's claims in the South China Sea, as outlined in the "China Standard Map Edition 2023”.
“We will use the appropriate platforms to voice out our rights. For Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship next year, we will also make this one of our areas of focus,” he said during the question and answer session in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 27).
Mohamad said Malaysia, as a co-chair of the Asean-China joint working group, also held four recent meetings to finalise the code of conduct in the South China Sea.
He said the meetings were at Bali in Indonesia, Bangkok in Thailand, Xi’an in China and Vientiane in Laos.
“This must be respected by all Asean countries, including China, as all have signed the declaration of conduct in the South China Sea in 2002.
“We are now in the process of finalising its code of conduct,” he said.
On enforcement matters, he said all government agencies are committed and working together.
“The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Navy are all on the ground and doing their work.
“There is no need to publicise what enforcement we are taking.
“Enforcement exercises are always ongoing,” he said.
Mohamad was responding to a supplementary question by Datuk Seri Shahidan Kasim (PN-Arau) who asked about Malaysia’s role as the Asean 2025 chair in protecting the country’s maritime rights following border claims by China through the nine-dash line.
Separately, Mohamad said the Asean framework is used to resolve any matters related to the South China Sea.
This includes finalising codes of conduct or claims by any Asean countries, including China.
“We practice policies to resolve any disputes peacefully and avoid any escalative or provocative situations,” he said.
Mohamad said Malaysia also protects its economic activities, with enforcement teams continuously patrolling areas where Malaysia conducts exploration activities.
