Bernama, 9 June 2011
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will soon be the sole enforcement agency in Malaysian waters.
Its main role is to ensure the safety, security and sovereignty of the Malaysian Maritime Zone as well as to protect life and property in our waters.
At present, there are eight maritime agencies involved in enforcement.
They are the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Marine Police, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Marine Department, Department of Fisheries, Department of Environment and Immigration Department.
MMEA, however, needs to overcome several shortcomings to effectively police 614,000 sq km of the country’s waters.
In a recent interview, MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish said the agency had implemented several measures to enable it to function efficiently.
He said it had plans to obtain more patrol ships, aircraft and other assets from the Government to increase its efficiency.
These assets include a new airbase for its aircraft to operate from.
“The air base in Subang is not adequate ... We should have one here (in the peninsula) and another in the east (for Sabah and Sarawak).”
At present, it has 130 vessels and eight helicopters, most of which belonged to the RMN and some are in a run-down condition.
“Our assets (ships) have surpassed their lifespan.
“The ships from the RMN are 38 to 40 years old.
“It is time for us to get new ships,” he said.
Mohd Amdan added that the MMEA was currently focusing on eradicating smuggling of contraband such as drugs and firearms.
It was also dealing with the rampant smuggling of consumer goods like cooking oil and diesel in the country’s northern region.
Among the biggest challenges faced by the agency is human trafficking, which requires the MMEA to conduct regular patrols and station surveillance units. — Bernama
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