FPDA - Is it still relevant or not for Malaysia and this region?

robotech

'40-year-old defence pact still relevant'


United Kingdom First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sir George Zambellas (left) inspecting the guard of honour at the Lumut naval base in Perak yesterday.

LUMUT: The Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA), signed in 1971 by members of five Commonwealth countries, including Malaysia, to consult each other in the event of external aggression or threat of attack against Malaysia, is still relevant.

In fact, United Kingdom First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sir George Zambellas expressed hope that more could be done in future among member countries -- the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore.

He said the FPDA, which is about mutual confidence and support, is still relevant.
"The FPDA, through professionalism and cooperation, had enabled the region to receive the very best security support.

"The arrangement is helpful and I think it should be continued."

Zambellas said this during his inaugural visit to the Lumut naval base here yesterday.

He was asked if the FPDA was still relevant after having been around for the past four decades.

Under the FPDA, the five-member nations undertake to consult immediately in the event of a threat of an armed attack on Malaysia or Singapore "for the purpose of deciding what measures should be taken jointly or separately".

To another question if it was possible for the UK to assist Malaysia in the event it faced difficult tasks in terms of security in the future as it did in the past, Zambellas said: "Every modern challenge is dealt with in a modern way and today's techniques are very much about deescalating, about de-risking and cooperation.
"Intervention is always an unattractive solution.

"Therefore, mutual support in pursuant of common security is the way we do business."

He said both the UK and Malaysia have a long historic connection and strategic partnership that both countries could be proud of.

"Seeing Malaysia as a strong independent nation is a wonderful manifestation of your journey in the world's development."

On another development, Zambellas said the HMS Daring which provided humanitarian support to the people of the Philippines following the recent typhoon was to visit Malaysia soon.

Source:
http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/40-year-old-defence-pact-still-relevant-1.463400

robotech

FPDA Still Relevant After 4 Good Decades

The Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) ratified between Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom around 4 decades ago remain to be seen as relevant to this day.

The United Kingdom United Kingdom First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff , Admiral Sir George Zambellas said, this is due to the agreement being revolved around balance confidence and support in terms of security and defence which helped to unite the nations involved.

He said the FPDA, which is about mutual confidence and support, is still relevant.

“The FPDA, through professionalism and cooperation, had enabled the region to receive the very best security support.

“The arrangement is helpful and I think it should be continued.”

Zambellas said this during his inaugural visit to the Lumut naval base. He was on his three day working visit to Malaysia from January 14 till January 16.

His presence at Lumut Naval Base was an expression to cooperation between the United Kingdom and Malaysia aside from historical ties that had binds both countries. While at the naval base, Admiral Zambellas was also brought to KD Panglima Hitam, the homebase of RMN PASKAL as well as the homebase of RMN naval diving unit, KD Duyung.

Both the RMN and the Royal Navy have a long professional relationship in terms of naval affairs including the specific responsibilities under the FPDA which ensure that the two countries would closely cooperate to ensure the security of this region.

He was asked if the FPDA was still relevant after having been around for the past four decades.

Under the FPDA, the five-member nations undertake to consult immediately in the event of a threat of an armed attack on Malaysia or Singapore “for the purpose of deciding what measures should be taken jointly or separately”.

To another question if it was possible for the UK to assist Malaysia in the event it faced difficult tasks in terms of security in the future as it did in the past, Zambellas said: “Every modern challenge is dealt with in a modern way and today’s techniques are very much about deescalating, about de-risking and cooperation.

“Intervention is always an unattractive solution.

“Therefore, mutual support in pursuant of common security is the way we do business.”

He said both the UK and Malaysia have a long historic connection and strategic partnership that both countries could be proud of.

“Seeing Malaysia as a strong independent nation is a wonderful manifestation of your journey in the world’s development.”

Though initially establish as the British Commonwealth’s collective security and defence measure as a result from the British decision to withdraw all of its military assets from eastern Suez in 1970’s, the FPDA has evolved beyond the traditional maritime and naval warfare into other element which include anti-piracy and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations.

While conducting Eks BERSAMA LIMA 2011 on October 27, 2011, a merchant vessel, MT Nautica Johor Bahru was hijacked by 10 Indonesian pirates just off the Pulau Batu Puteh. A distress signal has been sent and picked up by the MMEA.

At around 1520H, the MMEA Eurocopter AS365N Dauphin 2 helicopter desptached to look for MT Nautica Johor Bahru had detected the hijacked tanker some 85 nautical miles of Pekan, Pahang.

In order to boost the pursuit of the hijacked tanker, three out of five RMN ships involved in the exercise were diverted to the tanker’s known path. One of the two RMN frigate deployed, KD Lekiu, had disembarked its Super Lynx helicopter to further expand the search area.

At around 1615H, the Super Lynx had managed to locate the tanker which is now heading towards Anambas Island in Indonesia.

Through the authorisation of Indonesia’s BAKORKAMLA, RMN ships were allowed to enter the Indonesian border. At 2110H, the pirate left the vessel and escape to Jemaja Island, Indonesia. All 19 on-board as well as its RM 12 million worth of cargo were safe and unharmed.


HMS Daring being replenished by RAN oiler during Ex BERSAMA LIMA 2013

The recent Eks BERSAMA LIMA 2013 saw the Royal Navy deploying its state of the art Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring for the very first time. It was during the execution of this exercise that the Super Typhoon Haiyan wrecked destruction and havoc on the Philippines, prompting the UK Government to dispatched the Daring to convey the much needed humanitarian and medical assistance to the victims there.

Other FPDA members also lend their hands in assisting the typhoon victims. The RSAF, RMAF and RAAF each sends in their transport aircraft, flying in food supplies, medical relief, SAR and medical teams as well as others.



As has been stressed by Admiral Zambellas, the FPDA did indeed remain the only relevant military agreement in Southeast Asia region following the dissolution of the US led SEATO arrangement in 1977 after being enacted for 23 years.

Even ASEAN still does not have its own, permanent defence cooperation initiative as the organization is seemingly comfortable with political consensus and solidarity.

Source:
http://malaysiaflyingherald.word ... ter-4-good-decades/

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