Two more MMEA ships in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: The state’s Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will be strengthened as two more ships, the KM Kota Belud and the KM Kota Kinabalu, will be added to the agency’s arsenal.
According to director-general Admiral (Maritime) Datuk Seri Zulkifili Abu Bakar, the two ships, which are classified as New Generation Patrol Craft (NGPC), will be stationed in Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu respectively.
It is understood that the cost of each ship is estimated to be around RM60 million.
“KM Kota Belud is expected to arrive very soon while the KM Kota Kinabalu is expected to arrive at the end of the year,” Zulkifili said in a press conference during his visit to the MMEA headquarters in the state capital, yesterday.
In addition, three more Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) are expected to be completed by 2020, Zulkifili said, adding that the three units will cost around RM740 million and one of it will be placed in Sabah waters.
“For this year, we have also replaced 30 units of Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) and the tender process will be completed soon. The flash boats had to be replaced as the current ones had already been used for over 13 years,” he said.
Commenting on a separate issue, Zulkifili disclosed that the MMEA Act had been amended on December 13 and had since been enforced. The Act referred to the establishments of the Malaysian Maritime Reserve Team, the Malaysian Maritime Cadet as well as the Malaysian Maritime’s very own lockup.
“The establishment of the MMEA lockup will enable our agency to be independent in our investigations and arrests,” he said.
Last year, the MMEA arrested 336 individuals from 12,116 cases involving maritime offences in Sabah and it had placed 11 ships and 64 boats at the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), Zulkifili added.
Also present at the event were MMEA deputy director-general (operations) Datuk Mohd Taha Ibrahim and MMEA Sabah and Labuan regional director First Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som.