LANGKAWI: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has given the assurance that the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will be bolstered with additional assets, including helicopters, motherships and radar systems, to strengthen the nation’s maritime security capabilities.
This came following the recent Rohingya migrant boat tragedy where a joint Malaysian–Thai operation has so far recovered 29 bodies — 20 in Malaysian waters and nine in Thailand — while 14 survivors, including 12 Rohingyas and two Bangladeshi men, were rescued on the Malaysian side.
Saifuddin said four new helicopters from Italy are expected to arrive next year, while one new mothership is currently under construction and another has already been procured.
In addition, the agency will soon finalise procurement for two more Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), while another has already been completed.
“This is not even counting the additional boats, drones and radar systems — all of which are part of our continuous efforts to strengthen the MMEA’s operational capacity.
“These upgrades reflect our ongoing commitment to the agency, which has become the envy of other enforcement bodies.
“Throughout my three years at the Home Ministry, we have given the MMEA our fullest attention in improving their capabilities, including radar coverage, vessels and aerial assets,” he said during a press conference at the Langkawi district police headquarters today.
Saifuddin added the continuous enhancement of the MMEA’s assets has translated into more successful operations and higher numbers of arrests involving illegal entries and smuggling attempts across Malaysia’s northern maritime border.
He said between 2010 and this year, nearly 2,300 individuals have been detained for irregular movements within Langkawi waters alone, reflecting the island’s exposure as a key entry point due to its proximity to the Thai border.
“Langkawi’s waters are a strategic and sensitive zone. It’s only about four to five nautical miles from Thailand’s coastline. That proximity makes it a hotspot for illegal crossings,” he added.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
