PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has denied claims that the agency’s elite team held training at Masjid Rusila, Marang, Terengganu, on Sept 19.
Director-general Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the trainees were only performing prayers inside the mosque before their next assignment.
“The mosque was only used as a place for i’tikaf and rest by the trainees after performing the Asar prayer before receiving their next assignment.
“The mosque management had been informed earlier of the trainees’ presence, and no disturbance occurred to worshippers or religious activities.
“Religious values are instilled to strengthen the integrity and identity of enforcement officers,” Mohd Rosli said in a statement.
The response followed allegations raised by Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chief Whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
During a Dewan Rakyat session today, Takiyuddin claimed 10 to 15 individuals entered the mosque without permission, wore shoes, went into the women’s prayer area, and conducted a search while claiming to be police officers.
Mohd Rosli called the accusations baseless, saying they could harm the security force’s reputation and morale.
He clarified that the activity was part of a controlled tactical exercise conducted under strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
“MMEA has never and will never use a house of worship for raids or operations.
“The session was part of our special team’s tactical syllabus,” he said.
He explained that the training was based on the ‘Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape’ (SERE) module under the Special Task and Rescue (STAR) Team, designed to build resilience, discipline, and wisdom during undercover missions.
Mohd Rosli said the incident was amicably resolved after mosque officials accepted further clarification and apologised for the misunderstanding.
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