Miri base to beef up offshore MMEA enforcement
MIRI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will establish a permanent base here to beef up enforcement and surveillance in the South China Sea, particularly off the shores of northern Sarawak.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar said the RM100-million complex would be on a five-acre land adjacent to Kampung Pulau Melayu.
“This permanent base is expected to be completed in two to three years’ time. We need to have our own permanent building for a more efficient operation and also to install electronic equipment like radio transmission system, radar and control facilities not suited to our (current) rented office,” he told reporters after the symbolic handover of two confiscated foreign fishing vessels, which had been stripped of ownership, to the Civil Defence Force (APM) chief commissioner Major General (Rtd) Datuk
This permanent base is expected to be completed in two to three years’ time. We need to have our own permanent building for a more efficient operation and also to install electronic equipment like radio transmission system, radar and control facilities not suited to our (current) rented office. — Datuk Seri Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director-general
Azmy Yahya yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by MMEA Sarawak chief First Admiral Ismaili Bujang Pit and APM Sarawak director-colonel Moktar Samat.
Ahmad Puzi said other facilities at the permanent base would be housing for staff of MMEA for easy mobilisation of personnel, fast response and effective enforcement in Malaysian territorial waters.
He thanked the state government for facilitating the acquisition of land and said the permanent base was another achievement for this division.
He said despite world economic uncertainty, the government would continue to enhance the capabilities of the Malaysian coast guard.
In Sarawak, the next focus after Miri will be Bintulu and Tanjung Datu in Sematan, which has a rented office for its staff.
Currently, MMEA Sarawak has one administrative complex and staff quarters, located in Muara Tebas near Kuching.
“We plan to build an airbase in Sarawak to reinforce maritime enforcement strength. We are still looking for a suitable site to put our aircraft, this project to be carried out once allocation is available,” he said.