Vital to keep straits of Malacca and Singapore ‘open, safe and clean’
Every year, more than 80,000 vessels pass through the straits of Malacca and Singapore, carrying a third of the world's traded goods.
One-sixth of the world's total oil supply also passes through these waters, said Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport.
It is thus critical these straits stay "open, safe and clean", he said yesterday at the 11th Cooperation Forum - one of the three pillars of the Cooperative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the straits of Malacca and Singapore.
The forum is the main avenue for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as the global maritime community to exchange information and views on vital issues relating to the straits.
The three countries have made good use of the forum to discuss ways to cooperate, Mr Khaw said at the opening of the two-day forum.
A noteworthy initiative is an ongoing joint hydrographic survey of the straits undertaken by these countries with Japan, he said, adding the data will be used to produce more up-to-date and detailed electronic navigational charts.
The project is "close to 40 per cent complete" since its launch last year and on course to be completed by 2020.
Said Mr Khaw: "Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have also stepped up cooperation on operational matters and enhanced our emergency responses to incidents such as spills and ferry mishaps."
He noted the importance of anticipating and addressing future challenges. One of these is making shipping clean and sustainable. Mr Khaw stressed that this requires the collective commitment and cooperation of all stakeholders.
"Let us stay focused on our common goal, to keep the straits of Malacca and Singapore safe and clean and open for all users," he told about 180 participants.
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