Malaysia to make new law to fight piracy

March 24th, 2011 - 12:59 pm ICT by IANS  

Kuala Lumpur, March 24 (IANS) Malaysia is to have a new legislation to punish acts of piracy on the high seas that would be in keeping with the UN laws and fill a gap in local law books.

A bill is expected to be tabled in the next session, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat or parliament Wednesday.

He said the National Security Council was in the process of refining the proposed law.

“Currently, acts of piracy on the high seas is not a specific crime here. The law will specifically deal with acts of piracy and other maritime crimes as provided for under Article 101 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982,” the New Straits Times quoted him as telling parliament.

Malaysia, which straddles the straits that are major waterways facilitating international maritime traffic, currently has no law to try piracy.

It is currently holding seven Somali pirates who were brought last month after a Malaysian ship and its crew were rescued in a naval operation in the Arabian Sea.

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