MARITIME TERRORISM IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA : THREAT ANALYSIS AND COUNTER STRATEG

Abstract

This paper is aimed at examining the validity of the international users'
perception that terrorists may collaborate with pirates to mount punitive attacks in
the Straits of Malacca. The two littoral states of Malaysia and Indonesia do not
subscribe to such a view. Hence the research question lingers on the issue of why a
is the Straits of Malacca was said to be the next target of attack? Do terroristpirate
plots really exist? Or is there any other agenda behind the overwhelming
concern about the threat of maritime terrorism in the Straits? These questions lead
to the hypothesis that due to numerous countervailing factors, maritime terrorism
attacks are unlikely to occur in the Straits of Malacca in the near future. Among
the objective of this paper to analyze the importance of the Straits of Malacca to its
user, determine potential threats, and focus on the possibility of security hypes in the Straits of Malacca being driven by other factors. To achieve these objectives,
the analysis examined the perceived frameworks used by Al-Qaeda in planning
and executing 9/11 attacks in the United States. These include the need for
dedicated leadership, efficient communication and intelligence relevant expertise,
and sufficient logistic support. This paper concludes that due to numerous
countervailing factors, a maritime terrorism attack is unlikely to happen in the
Straits of Malacca in the near future. It also concludes that despite divergent
threat perceptions between littoral states and international users, both could work
together to ensure the safety and security of strait users.