Published June 10, 2009

Moves to calm tension over sea spat

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(KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia sent its armed forces chief to Indonesia yesterday to soothe tensions over disputed waters, saying the two countries must temporarily stop maritime patrols there to reduce the risk of a confrontation.

The navies of both countries have faced off several times in recent weeks, with Jakarta saying that it nearly opened fire on May 25 on a Malaysian patrol vessel that it said had strayed into territorial waters that it claims.

'Our armed forces chief will be going to Indonesia this evening . . . and tomorrow there may be a reaction or counter proposal from the Indonesians,' said Malaysian Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid.

He said military chief General Abdul Aziz Zainal would suggest to his Indonesian counterpart that both countries temporarily stop maritime patrols at the Ambalat oil concession block situated in waters off the island of Borneo.

The dispute over the territory and access to undersea oil and natural gas originated from a map which Malaysia published in 1979 which placed the area in its territory and which Indonesia protested.

Both countries have since handed out contracts to major foreign firms in the area.

Indonesia awarded Italy's major oil group ENI a production sharing contract in 1999, while Malaysia in 2005 struck an exploration deal with Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Malaysian state firm Petronas. - Reuters