Contemporary Maritime Security Developments in Sulu-Celebes Sea: Impact of Mitigating Mechanisms

Only recently has transborder maritime misconduct been acknowledged as a serious security concern, including sea robberies and piracy, illicit trafficking in people, drugs, guns, and waste, and also environmental dangers like illicit overfishing and sea pollution, elements of maritime governance that demands government response as the associated law enforcement and maritime security priorities are becoming more and more important. The trilateral mechanism has been stepped up in the Sulu- Celebes region between the tri-border nations, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines in an effort to combat maritime security threats. However, it is undistinguishable how effective those efforts are, given that armed robberies and sea piracy have persevered in the significant waterway, this area tends to be a target for kidnappings and ship hijackings, and it is plagued by infringing trafficking and illegal fishing activities that potentially harm the regional maritime security. This research aims to examine the concept of maritime environment in the Sulu-Celebes Sea, identify its maritime security developments, and analyse the impact of mitigating mechanisms in order to suggest solutions to enhance the safety and security situations in its complex maritime areas. By adopting the qualitative approach which seeks to explore both the primary and secondary information that are evocative and pertinent to the subject, primary data was acquired through the meeting of minds in interviews with subject matter experts from various agencies such as the Malaysian Defence Intelligence Organisation (MDIO), National Task Force (NTF), Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), National Defence University Malaysia (NDUM), and etc. Simultaneously, secondary data was obtained from literature reviews, government reports, thesis, journals, lectures and other reliable online materials. This research has identified three action plans to enhance the safety and security of the Sulu-Celebes Sea: Firstly, TCA extensions and upgrades between Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines are integral to increase defense collaboration in the Sulu-Celebes Sea for the strategic reason of shipping and maritime security in the waterways around their frontiers; then, it is necessary for these tri-border states to enhance their regional maritime information collaboration for reciprocated growth in achieving situational awareness in the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous future operating environment; and lastly, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines need to genuinely determine the specific nature and limitations of their cooperative actions in light of discrepancies in policy, trust, enforcement, and information-sharing amongst the tri border states.

Ancaman maritim rentas sempadan telah diakui sebagai salah satu kebimbangan yang serins baru-baru ini termasuklali rompakan bersenjata, pemerdagangan manusia, penyeludupan dadah dan senjata api, serta irsiko alam sekitar termasuk penangkapan ikan secara haram dan pencemaran laut, situasi sedemikian memerlukan tindak balas kerajaan memandangkan keutamaan keselamatan maritim adalah semakin penting. Peningkatan mekanisme secara tiga hala yang melibatkan negara-negara berkepentingan seperti Malaysia, Indonesia dan Filipina dalam menangani isu keselamatan maritim di perairan Laut Sulu-Sulawesi dilihat semakin signifikan, namun sejauh mana keberkesananan usaha tersebut adalah dipertikaikan memandangkan ancaman rompakan bersenjata dan penguasaan militan masih wujud, selain aktiviti pemerdagangandan penangkapanikan secara haram masih berleluasa. Oleh itu, kajian ini mengutarakan tiga objektif termasuk mengkaji konsep persekitaran maritim di Laut Sulu-Sulawesi, mengenal pasti perkembangan keselamatan maritim, dan menganalisis kesan mekanisme bagi mencadangkanjalan penyelesaian untuk meningkatkan situasi keselamatan di kawasan maritim yang kompleks tersebut. Maka, menerusi pendekatan kualititatif, maklumat primer diperoleh melalui temu bual bersama pelbagai agensi seperti Malaysian Defense Intelligence Organisation (MDIO), National Task Force (NTF), Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM), Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia (APMM), Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM), Institut Maritim Malaysia (MIMA), Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) dan Iain-lain. Manakala maklumat sekunder dalam kajian ini juga diperkukuhkan dengan ulasan literatur, laporan kerajaan, tesis, jumal, kuliah dan bahan dalam talian lain yang boleh dipercayai. Berlandaskan peraerhatian dan penemuan, kajian ini telah mencadangkan tigapelan tindakan untv^ meningkatkan keselamatan di kawasan Laut Sulu-Sulawesi. Pertama, penyambungan dan peningkatan Trilateral Cooperation Arrangement (TCA) antara Malaysia, Indonesia, dan Filipina adalah penting untuk meningkatkan kerjasama pertahanan di Laut Sulu-Sulawesi atas sebab strategik perkapalan dan keselamatan maritim di perairan sekitar sempadan mereka; kedua, pentingnya negara tiga sempadan ini untuk meningkatkan kerjasama maklumat maritim serantau dalam mencapai kesedaran situasi dalam persekitaran operas! masa depan yang serba tidak menentu dan kompleks; ketiga, Malaysia, Indonesia dan Filipina perlu benar-benar menentukan sifat khusus dan had tindakan kerjasama mereka berdasarkan percanggahan dalam dasar, amanah, penguatkuasaan dan perkongsian maklumat agar memberi manfaat masa hadapan yang sangat bemilai kepada negara-negara bersempadan dengan Laut Sulu-Sulawesi yang mempunyai aspirasi ke arah mencapai keselamatan dalaman dan luaran sempadan maritim untuk jangkamasa panjang.