Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein
KUCHING: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the presence of Chinese coast guard ships outside the Gugusan Beting Patinggi Ali waters, about 84 nautical miles from the coast of Miri, is under control.
He was confident that direct communication between the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia and the Sarawak state leadership would be able to help in strengthening the confidence of the Sarawak people who were concerned about the presence of the ships.
In his meeting with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem two days ago, Hishammuddin said he had informed that he would try to get the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Huang Huikang to call on the Chief Minister soon.
He said he had directed Navy Chief, Laksamana Datuk Seri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin to contact the Chinese Embassy to arrange for the meeting.
“In fact tomorrow in Sembrong (Perak) I will be with Ambassador Dr Huang to celebrate the Chinese New Year, so I can convey the message later…so do not worry, the situation is under control,” he said at a media conference after visiting the Heroes’ Mausoleum, here today.
Hishammuddin, who is also Sembrong (Johor) MP, said this when asked on the presence of the Chinese coast guard ships in the area which was detected two years ago, which resulted in local deepsea fishermen fearing to go there.
The minister later proceeded to the Sarawak General Hospital to visit Colonel (Rtd) Dunstan Nyaring Angking, 72, who was the first Sarawak native to assume the rank of Colonel in the 1980’s, who is receiving treatment for a viral infection on the foot.
He is later scheduled to visit houses under the 1Malaysia Veterans’ Home Repair (1MVRP) scheme in Kampung Sikog, Padawam, about 20km from here and visit military veterans before concluding his three-day working visit to Sarawak. – Bernama