Malaysia tightens security ahead of ASEAN summit

Malaysia_tightens_security_ahead_of_ASEAN_summitMalaysian authorities tightened security as they deployed soldiers in its capital city on Friday (November 20), taking extra security precautions amid unconfirmed reports of an “imminent terrorist threat” ahead of a regional summit.

U.S. President Barack Obama’s is joining leaders of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for a weekend summit. Leaders from eight other countries with close partnerships with the grouping – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United States – will also attend the meetings starting on Saturday (November 21).

Malaysia tightened security following militant attacks in France, Egypt and Lebanon, Malaysian Armed Forces Chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said.

At least 2,000 army personnel were being stationed at strategic points in Kuala Lumpur and another 2,500 were on standby, he added.

Obama and most of the other leaders coming to Kuala Lumpur attended the APEC summit in Manila. Obama has tried to turn the heat on China over its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea and assure allies that a U.S. “pivot” to Asia remains a core policy.

Beijing has overlapping claims with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei in the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.

China has said it does not want the South China Sea issue to be the focus of the meetings in Kuala Lumpur but acknowledged the topic would be hard to avoid.

Kuala Lumpur is hosting the 27th ASEAN summit which will end on Sunday (November 22).