.3 some ports not yet having deployed security measures; and
.4 some port authorities not being aware that incidents had occurred in their areas of responsibility due to the fact that they had not been reported by the masters of the ships affected.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia focuses its attention on law and order in its territorial waters. During 1998, there were 16 cases of armed robbery in Malaysian territorial waters. As a result, 3 people died and 11 were injured. The loss of property was estimated at M$700,000. Acts of armed robbery are decreasing compared to the last few years. Robberies at sea took place mainly in Sabah waters (East Malaysia) and the victims were mainly fishermen. From 1992 to 1998 a total number of 14 fishermen died and approximately M$2 million in property were lost. Statistics from 1990 to 1998 on the loss suffered by criminals amounted to a total of 28 robbers shot dead and 62 arrested.
The Malaysian Authorities continue to operate in their area of jurisdiction, maintaining surveillance on illegal activities including piracy and armed robbery. Good co-ordination is maintained among the various law enforcement agencies. The Marine Police operates in the territorial waters, while the Navy operates in the EEZ. Malaysia conducts joint naval patrol exercises with the Philippines under the Border Patrol Co-ordinating Group arrangement. Joint maritime operations and exercises between Malaysia and Indonesia and Malaysia and Thailand exist under the Border Committee arrangements. Malaysia is also actively participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARE) security activities, which focus on a regional approach to security. The maritime dimension of the ARE is gaining momentum.
Malaysia welcomes the recommendations and observations of IMO. A problem facing Malaysia at present is that Malaysia still has to legislate against piracy.
PHILIPPINES
Piracy still flourishes in Philippine waters. It is even considered endemic in the Southern part of the county where the level of violence has been increasing lately. Pirates conducted a total of 213 attacks in 1997, registering a 50% increase from a total of 142 incidents in 1996. That year's total was the biggest so far in the last 10 years. In 1998, there were 116 reported cases, which was 46% of the incidents in 1997. These sea marauding activities ranged from incidents in which the pirates had simply taken the engines or valuables from the crew to cases where the entire boat was taken outright. In 1997, a total of 188 vessels were robbed of valuables, engines, fishcatch or equipment compared to 118 in 1996 while 26 vessels were taken by the pirates against 16 in 1998. Lately, there has been an increasing level of violence with more common use of firearms. 46 persons were killed, 31 wounded and 26 listed as missing in the previous year. In 1998, 33 persons died at the hands of pirates, which was 72% of the preceding year's total number of dead victims. In 1996 and 1997, the month of June, marking the onset of the rainy season, had the highest number of piracy cases. In 1998 however the month of August had more piracy incidents than June.
By island group, the majority of cases occurred in Mindanao. Although fewer incidents occurred in Luzon, the danger still exists at South Harbour, Manila and near the mouth of the Pasig River. In the Visayas, piracy has either declined or remained unreported. In Mindanao, piracy could be described as a regular feature of the region over long historical periods. The pirates' methods are brutal. The Moro Gulf is believed to be among the world's most treacherous waters for just about any modest-sized craft, from fishing outriggers to commuter ferries, cargo ships to barter trade vessels. In the Southern part of the Moro Gulf, a resurgence of piracy activities was noted in 1997 after a brief respite. This was a result of the deactivation of Naval District VII which used to head a three year anti-piracy task force Neptune. In Luzon, piracy is taking a toll on commercial shipping. The most common location for attacks on commercial vessels is in the port of Manila. In 1998, pirates shifted their attention to barges carrying imported wheat and soya at the mouth of the Pasig River.
