KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been suggested to introduce the Marine and Island Protection Act following the issue of the duplicating claims on several areas in the South China Sea involving Malaysia and other countries.
Sabah Umno delegate, Mohamad Alamin, said the introduction of the act was crucial in maintaining Malaysia’s maritime territory while ensuring national peace and sovereignty.
“We take China as an example. They have the ‘Protection of Island Act’ to enable them to protect the islands belonging to them from foreign encroachment.
“So, if possible we ask the ministry responsible to look at this requirement in a courteous manner,” he said when proposing the motion to debate the policy speech of the Umno president at the Umno General Assembly 2013 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here yesterday.
Besides Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Vietnam, China and Taiwan had duplicating claims on several areas in the South China Sea including the Spratly Islands.
Mohamad, who is also the Kimanis Umno division vice-head and State Assemblyman for Bongawan, also suggested that the Umno Constitution be amended to enable the formation of the election committee to be included into the party constitution with its members comprising independent and neutral professionals. — Bernama