PORT KLANG: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has successfully carried out 62 arrests with seizures worth over RM5 million during a special operation dubbed Op Khas Pagar Laut.
The operation has been in effect nationwide for the past 15 days.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this is in line with MMEA's resolution in curbing and combating cross-border criminal activities involving issues such as illegal immigrants, incursions by foreign fishermen, smuggling of contraband goods and the smuggling of controlled items into neighbouring countries.
"If left unchecked, the country would face various issues and suffer losses of millions of ringgit due to the actions of individuals or groups targeting the festive season to engage in criminal activities and law violations at sea," he said in a press conference during his visit aboard the MMEA's offshore patrol vessel, KM Tun Fatimah, today.
Also present were the Home Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Ruji Ubi, and MMEA's director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin.
Saifuddin also said that the success of MMEA's operations is based on the agency's asset capabilities in carrying out the operations.
"As the minister responsible for maintaining public order, every agency under the ministry has been directed to enhance surveillance and monitoring nationwide, including in border areas, to curb criminal activities effectively.
"This action is necessary because security threats are now not only traditional but also dynamic and complex, requiring agencies under the ministry to take prompt and effective action," he said.
Meanwhile, Hamid said in addition to enforcement, the MMEA is also prepared to carry out search and rescue (Carilamat) duties in the event of incidents involving vessels or boats carrying foreign nationals from this country to return to their hometowns in preparation for the upcoming Eid celebrations.
"This is because there are foreign nationals, especially illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries, taking risks to return to their respective hometowns by boarding boats or barges that do not have safety features and using uncharted routes. "This action could endanger their safety and risk their lives," he said.
