MMEA probes possibility of terrorists entering M'sia through national waters

ALOR STAR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will investigate any possibility of infiltration of militant elements by foreigners who enter the national waters.

Its director-general, Maritime Admiral Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar said besides neighbouring countries, the agency was also monitoring the immigrants from the countries carrying high risks of bringing militant ideologies into Malaysian waters.

He said, some immigrants from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Somalia were arrested during more than 30,000 inspections in the sea conducted by MMEA last year.

"We must be careful, investigate and pay attention on how they try to enter our country illegally and should not overlook them. We must not compromise on the safety of Malaysia," he told reporters after handing over MMEA boats to the Civil Defence Department, here yesterday.

Ahmad Puzi said the agency with its 5,000 members would be prepared round the clock to monitor the national waters, besides planning to recruit more staff and adding more equipment through its strategic planning until 2040.

He said the readiness of MMEA had reduced maritime crime cases in the country to merely three percent, which was the smallest percentage compared to the other areas.

"For example, about 77,000 ships pass through the Malacca Straits and none of the ships were troubled by robbers or pirates. It means, the economy and trade in the country were running smoothly," he added.

Ahmad Puzi said a radar network system would be built in Pulau Jarak, Perak and Pulau Perak, Kedah this year for extra monitoring and enforcement in the Malacca Straits.

Currently, MMEA has nine radar stations in the Malacca Straits which were monitoring and giving information to ships and MMEA patrol boats regarding any suspicious boats, besides another three radar stations in Sabah covering Kota Kinabalu to Kudat. – Bernama