KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will conduct the Perkasa Timur Maritime Exercise in the waters of Sabah and Sarawak from Saturday (October 28) to November 3.
MMEA Security and Surveillance Division director Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the exercise will involve the agency’s 14 vessels.
The exercise will test MMEA’s ability to carry out its responsibilities in safeguarding the security of Malaysian waters and ensuring the local maritime community’s well-being.
“In the exercise, MMEA personnel will be tested in handling deep-sea vessels, like pursuing criminals at sea, along with emergencies like capsized ships and rescuing drowning victims.
“They will also be tested in several other situations to see how efficient they are in carrying out their duties,” he said as a guest on a Bernama TV programme today.
Meanwhile, Rosli said MMEA is also actively conducting exercises with local enforcement agencies and neighbouring countries due to the nation’s vast waters and limited assets.
Without close cooperation from both sides, monitoring Malaysia’s waters would be difficult as it borders several countries.
The national waters involving the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea are also among the busiest shipping routes globally. They are a major contributor to the economy via the fisheries, tourism, and the oil and gas sectors.
“Among the challenges we face are cross-border crime involving drugs, cigarettes and subsidised goods smuggling, and even human trafficking, besides encroachment by foreign fishermen,” he said.
Separately, with the onset of the northeast monsoon (MTL), Rosli advised the local maritime community to take precautions when going to sea. The MTL is forecasted to start earlier this year, from November to March 2024.
The monsoon season means MMEA will receive many calls regarding emergencies at sea.
“For those indulging in activities at sea, be sure to wear a life jacket, and if you can afford it, buy an Individual Location Tracker or PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) because it will make it easier for MMEA to track the distress signal (SOS) to the location of your emergency,” he said.
— Bernama
