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| Southeast Asia |
| Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Establishing Air Unit |
| 2005-12-09 |
| The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will set up its own air unit for search and rescue, surveillance and intelligence functions. MMEA Director-General Vice Admiral Datuk Mohammad Nik said the unit would operate from five stations. The number of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters for the unit had not been decided... the agency might initially rent the aircraft it needed before buying its own later. MMEA now has 10 boats operating in the Strait of Melaka and another 62 will be transferred to the agency next year from the Royal Malaysian Navy, police, Marine Department, Customs Department and Fisheries Department. It will also receive in stages 38 rigid inflatable boats under construction in Terengganu. Mohammad said the Melaka Strait is the current focus of the agency because of the perception that the waterway is unsafe and pirate infested. Wonder where that perception came from? "In fact, the strait is safe for shipping and fishing. There is some misconception because of several incidents which caused alarm," he said. "Everything is fine - REMAIN CALM!!!!" Mohammad said MMEA planned to have a force of nearly 7,000 personnel but would initially take in 4,035 on secondment from other existing agencies. |
| Posted by:Pappy |