KUANTAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will intensify patrols and enforcement through Op Tumpas this festive season.
MMEA director-general Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish said the special operation was to stamp out smuggling and robbery.
“The operation, from July 1 to Aug 15, involves all five maritime regions but won’t affect existing operations.
“In the 13 days of the fasting month, 880 checks and 22 arrests were made.
“Last year, the agency conducted 2,283 checks and made 42 arrests during Ramadan and did 2,280 checks and made 54 arrests during Syawal,” he said after attending a breaking of fast and contribution presentation ceremony for 30 orphans from Kuantan at Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy here on Friday.
Present was Eastern Region enforcement chief Datuk Nasir Adam.
Amdan said they hoped to prevent casualties involving illegal immigrants during the festive season.
He advised illegal immigrants to return home using proper methods despite being fined (for staying in the country illegally) rather than putting themselves in danger by using illegal skippers who are out to make profit.
Commenting on MMEA’s operations, Amdan said 423 arrests were made from 15,892 checks conducted by MMEA for the first six months of this year.
“MMEA collected RM261 million through fines, and disposal and auctioning of vessels since 2006. Besides that, 30 fishing boats were detained this year, with RM2.1 million in fines. For smuggled diesel and petrol, 171 cases involved more than RM2.5 million from 2006 to last month.”
MMEA’s search-and-rescue operations had saved 248 lives, he added. Bernama
