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The Straits of Malacca is a narrow 900Km waterway between the Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesian Island of Sumatera. According to figures from International Maritime Organization(IMO) each year about 50,000 ships pass through the straits. The tip of the straits connect the Indian Ocean while the bottom part connects the Singapore Straits and then to the South China Sea.

Cargo from fish to the black gold is transported to this strait everyday. Over the last several years the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued warnings about rising threat of piracy in the straits. A good majority of the piracy activities takes place within the borders of Indonesia. In lieu of this threat, the Malaysian government has implemented several measures to address this issue which results in a great drop in the number of reported cases of piracy within the Malaysian borders. Among the measures taken were: More frequent patrols by RMN (Royal Malaysian Navy) and the Marine Police Installation of coastal radar stations along the straits to monitor the movements of ships in the straits Aerial patrol of the straits using RMAF (Royal Malaysia Airforce) assets Merging all government agencies that has different roles and stakes in the protection of Malaysian littoral waters and its EEZ under the Malaysian Maritime Agency to make law enforcement more effective and efficient In the later part on March 2004, Singapore had voiced its concerns on the safety of ships passing through the straits. Singapore's economy rely heavily on trade from its ports. With the terrorist threat from Al-Qaeda and JI in the region, Singapore had called upon the US to intervene and help patrol the straits. Malaysia and Indonesia whose borders are the major part of the straits protested to Singapore disregard of both countries soverign rights. Matters were made worse when visits by US Naval Officers to the Ministry of Defense in Singapore reiterating the concerns and made suggestion that American special forces be deployed in the straits to check on terrorism activities in the straits. Knowing the sensitivities of both countries on sovereignity issues, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld who attended a FPDA informal forum had made a cautious remark by the possible involvement of U.S. troops in securing the straits, while nevertheless making it very clear that his country has strategic interests in the channel.

However, the outcome of the forum was in Malaysia's favor as the parties involve in FPDA agreed that Malaysia has the soverign right to reject US involvement in its security issues. The parties in the FPDA are Britain, Australia , New Zealand , Singapore and Malaysia. In a statement made by Malaysia's Deputy Premier "Malaysia believes it is always positive for us to have shared responsibilities. But this shared responsibility must not be at the expense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the littoral states"; stressed the right of Malaysia to deny any foreign military presents on its territory as this will be a catalyst for the terrorist cell to operate.