30 Apr 2020 – KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is moving some of its assets to ‘hotspots’ bordering Thailand and Indonesia.

The effort is aimed at detecting and preventing the entry of illegal immigrants (PATI) as well as criminal activities at sea especially during the Movement Control Act (MCO).

Its director-general, Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the Malaysian Maritime Monitoring System (Swasla) served as a 24-hour radar network to assist with nighttime surveillance throughout the Straits of Malacca.

“Swasla’s role has also been enhanced by activating ongoing communications with MMEA assets at sea and air as well as the assets of the Maritime Police Force (MPF) and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) agencies,” he told Sinar Harian here yesterday.

He said the Swasla-based collaborative information would be channeled directly to all sea and air assets over time to strengthen national water border controls.

“We will coordinate monitoring of migrant landing hotspots around Kedah and Perlis assisted by air assets,” he said.

READ: MAF Foils Illegal Rohingya’s Attempt To Enter Malaysia

He said an AW139 aircraft had been deployed to Langkawi Island and the air patrol was conducted daily north of the country’s west coast and west coast.

Meanwhile, the arrest statistics during the MCO period beginning in March showed a decrease of 38.30 percent from 107 cases to 66 cases.

Most of the arrests include the Fisheries Act (31 cases), the Sabah Port and Wharf Enactment (17 cases) and the Immigration Act (8 cases).

Ongoing monitoring of sea and air assets throughout the MCO has greatly helped the maritime community.

Due to the geographical factors of the country being open and in conflict with several regional countries, the country is also exposed to illegal access or excessive hotspots.

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APMM kerah aset ke kawasan ‘panas’

30 Apr 2020 – KUALA LUMPUR – Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia (APMM) menggerakkan beberapa asetnya ke kawasan ‘panas’ yang bersempadan dengan Thailand dan Indonesia.

Usaha itu bertujuan mengesan dan mencegah kemasukan pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) serta aktiviti jenayah di laut khususnya dalam tempoh Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP).

Ketua Pengarahnya, Laksamana Maritim Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som berkata, Sistem Pengawasan Maritim Laut Malaysia (Swasla) berfungsi sebagai rangkaian radar yang beroperasi 24 jam bagi membantu penugasan pengawasan pada waktu malam di sepanjang Selat Melaka.

“Peranan Swasla turut ditingkatkan dengan mengaktifkan komunikasi berterusan dengan aset APMM di laut dan udara serta aset agensi Pasukan Polis Marin (PPM) dan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM),” katanya kepada Sinar Harian di sini semalam.Swasla di kawasan semenanjung dan Sabah berfungsi sebagai rangkaian radar 24 jam bagi membantu penugasan pengawasan pada waktu malam di sepanjang perairan Malaysia.

Beliau berkata, kolaboratif maklumat yang berpangkalan di Swasla akan disalurkan terus kepada semua aset laut dan udara dari masa ke masa bagi memperkukuh kawalan sempadan perairan negara.

“Kami akan mengkordinasikan pemantauan di kawasan titik panas pendaratan migran di sekitar Kedah dan Perlis yang dibantu oleh aset udara,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, satu pesawat udara AW139 sudah ditempatkan di Pulau Langkawi dan rondaan udara dilakukan setiap hari di sebelah utara sempadan perairan dan pantai barat negara.

Sementara itu, menurutnya statistik tangkapan sepanjang tempoh PKP iaitu bermula Mac lepas menunjukkan berlaku penurunan sebanyak 38.30 peratus iaitu daripada 107 kes kepada 66 kes.

Sebahagian besar tangkapan melibatkan Akta Perikanan (31 kes), Enakmen Pelabuhan dan Dermaga Sabah (17 kes) dan Akta Imigresen (8 kes).

Pemantauan berterusan aset laut dan udara sepanjang PKP banyak membantu pematuhan dalam kalangan komuniti maritim.

Berikutan faktor geografi negara yang terbuka dan bersempadanan dengan beberapa negara serantau, negara juga terdedah kepada laluan masuk secara haram atau titik panas yang banyak.