U.S. Grants IMSS to Monitor Malacca Strait (Jawa Pos 6/30, p.8); (Indo Pos 6/30, p.4)

The U.S. government views the Malacca Strait as having a high risk of criminal occurrences, in particular piracy, smuggling and terrorism. In order to preempt such actions, the U.S. government has granted an integrated maritime surveillance system (IMSS) worth $56 million to Indonesia. The mega-project was officially handed from the U.S. government to the Indonesian government yesterday (6/29) at RI Naval Base in Batam. The U.S. government was represented by U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume, while Indonesia was represented by Defense Ministry’s Inspector General Vice Admiral Gunadi. Gunadi said the grant was a result of U.S.-Indonesia bilateral cooperation. “Indonesia has long waited for this project,” Gunadi said in his remarks during the event yesterday. Meanwhile, Ambassador Hume said this was a remarkable achievement for Indonesia, as the country now has the same technology as Singapore and Malaysia.

U.S. Radar Effective to Secure Malacca Strait (Suara Karya 6/30, p.4)

The Indonesian Western Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Marsetio said the assistance of 12 integrated maritime surveillance systems (IMSS) provided by the U.S. along the Malacca Strait will be effective to reduce maritime danger in the region. “We hope the danger can be minimized with IMSS,” said Marsetio in Jakarta Tuesday (6/29). Previously, Marsetio attended the dedication ceremony of IMSS from the U.S. Government to the Indonesian Government in Batam. The IMSS was handed over by the U.S. Ambassador Cameron R. Hume to the Indonesian government through Inspector General of Defense Ministry Vice Admiral Gunadi