Malacca No "Private" Security Escorts

You might recall that there is at least one firm offering armed escort services to commercial shipping in the Strait of Malacca. Now on jurisdiction (Malaysia) has said that's a "no-no", as reported here:

Only the marine police are permitted to provide security escort service to merchant vessels plying the Straits of Malacca.

The Federal Director of Internal Security and Public Order, Datuk Othman Talib, warned today that stern action would be taken against anyone else offering such services to merchant vessels.

He said the Internal Security Ministry had never issued permits to companies to provide escort services.

"Anyone who carries huge quantities of weapons in their vessels to provide security services can be detained as they are infringing upon the sovereignty of the country."

"Their presence in our waters is considered an intrusion," he told reporters after visiting the Southern Region Marine Police here today.