Thailand offers help to secure Malacca Strait

Another country heard from: Thailand offers help to secure Malacca Strait

Thailand expressed on Tuesday its will to assist Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to stamp out piracy in the Strait of Malacca even though there has been opposition to Thai involvement.

Thailand Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon raised the piracy and security issue during a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his local counterpart here Hassan Wirayuda on Tuesday.

"I have raised the possibility of Thailand's contribution to strengthening the security within the strait," he told reporters after the meeting.

"It is a very important strait, we are eager to work closely with Indonesia and with the other countries bordering the strait,"

"We looked into the issue about the need to have capacity-building, we want to participate in policing the strait so it is safe for international navigation," Kantathi said.