KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian minister on Wednesday rejected US help in fighting piracy in the Malacca Straits, saying it was not necessary since attacks have decreased significantly in the area.

“There is no reason for them to come in to guard,” Deputy Minister Abdul Rahman Suliman told parliament, according to state news agency Bernama. “The United States and other quarters cannot deny that it is safe.” The minister was not responding to any recent offers by the United States for help, but Kuala Lumpur has long been wary of US intentions in the Straits, and has repeatedly rejected plans for American anti-terrorism patrols.

More than 30 per cent of world trade passes through the area, and rampant attacks by pirates in the past have caused concern for nations relying on fuel shipments.

Maintaining and securing the waterway has been deemed the responsibility of the states that border the sea lane: Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

An increase in sea and air patrols by those countries has been credited with driving reported attacks down to 11 in 2006, compared with 38 in 2004.

In 2004, Admiral Thomas Fargo said US was considering the possibility of deploying troops to the Straits as part of counter-terrorism efforts in S. Asia.—AFP