KUCHING, April 26: The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing questions the motive behind the query made by veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin concerning the recent Chinese vessel incursion into Malaysia’s waters.
Tiong, who is also the president of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement highlighted that foreign vessels have been suspected of violating the country’s territorial waters from time to time, during both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan’s tenures.
“Kadir Jasin’s decision to choose this time specifically to question this government’s response to these incursions makes one doubt his motives,” he opined.
Tiong was responding to Kadir Jasin’s query regarding the former’s role as the envoy to address the entry of two Chinese vessels into Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which was posted on social media yesterday.
At the same time, Tiong also reminded Kadir Jasin that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had also responded to this matter, indicating that Malaysia continues to pursue all actions to defend her rights and interests in the South China Sea in order to achieve a mutually beneficial situation while avoiding unwanted disputes and misunderstandings.
He noted that such matters are resolved peacefully in accordance with the principles of international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982).
“On the South China Sea issue, the Prime Minister and Wisma Putra must be allowed the appropriate space to manage it.
“Rest assured, the government continues to seek peaceful ways to issues with an international dimension, with a view toward creating mutual benefit and win-win results for a successful resolution,” he added. — DayakDaily
