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MALAYSIAN Maritime
Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is expanding its fleet
of vessels and helicopters to beef up security
in the country's maritime zone.
The agency, which began operation in November
2005, ensures security in Malaysian waters, and
protects the maritime interests of Malaysia and
indirectly other countries.
Its director general, Admiral Datuk Mohammad Nik,
said the agency would receive its third light
medium lift helicopter by the end of this month.
“In the near future, we will need another three
medium lift helicopters,” he told reporters
after the hand-over ceremony of its two fast
interceptor craft by shipbuilder Destination
Marine Services Sdn Bhd.
The two 18-metre interceptor craft, Penggalang 1
and Penggalang 2, cost RM9mil.
Their capabilities were tested by Mohammad
himself at the event off Port Klang waters. The
boats have a maximum speed of 45 knots and a
cruising speed of 35 knots.
“The addition of these two small vessels will
surely improve our surveillance and protection
in Malaysian waters,” he said.
But the admiral added that the agency needed
more large and medium-sized vessels for
increased security in deeper waters.
“Of our 119 vessels, 70 belong to the large and
medium-sized category, and we require about 100
vessels of such sizes,” he said, adding that
majority of the agency's vessels were given by
the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Royal Malaysian
Police and the Customs Department.
Mohammad said the agency had not ordered any
other vessel but planned to acquire more new
vessels under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
On the current situation in Malaysian waters, he
said the agency's present focus was to ensure
the safety of local fishermen in the South China
Sea and Straits of Malacca.
“We have managed to control the illegal entries
into our waters, and crime statistics on the
security of local fishermen have shown
improvement.”
Mohammad said the agency was also focusing on
smuggling activities at sea. “In terms of
piracy, we have already informed the maritime
community how to contact us in the efforts to
combat crime at sea. We need to be fast in order
to be at the scene on time,” he said.
He said that most piracy cases in the Straits of
Malacca happened outside Malaysian waters.
The Straits of Malacca is shared by Malaysia,
Indonesia and Singapore.
In his address during the ceremony, Mohammad
urged Malaysian shipyards to beef up their
competitiveness through technology transfer in
view of the Government's aspiration to make
Malaysia a maritime nation. |
