KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Malaysia has always been cautious in dealing with maritime dispute in the South China Sea to reduce tension and to maintain peace in this region.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Husssein said to this end, Malaysia and the other Asean countries need to work as one entity to preserve the security.

“It is important for the Asean leadership to ensure that there is no miscalculation involved in the geo-political powers. We must decide our destiny so that it will be easier for us to avoid interference by any third party,” he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from the Australian Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs at Wisma Pertahanan here today.

Griggs three-day visit here is part of the defence diplomacy in balancing bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and Australia.

He was commenting on the statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the importance for parties involved to reduce tension and find solution to dispute in the South China Sea after attending the Asean Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, yesterday.

Hishammuddin said Malaysia could be the model in this matter (maritime dispute) via leadership including military cooperation and not just via political channels.

Citing conflicts in neighbouring countries and the Middle East as example, he said Asean via its policy of togetherness, could be the model for other world organisations.

He also thanked the Australian government for its commitment to the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 which had been missing since March 8. — Bernama