KAJANG: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is gearing up ahead of ratification of the newly passed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement by putting more personnel at popular sea trade areas in the country.
Its director-general Admiral Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar said following the agreement on the TPPA which will soon be inked, he believed that a number of large cargo vessels and ships locally and internationally would be plying the Malacca Straits and South China Sea.
Puzi said as such, it was paramount to enhance the surveillance and step up patrols along the sea routes as well as keep an eye on all ship movements there.
"We are very concerned about the country's safety and security, especially with regards to piracy and other threats that may attempt to enter Malaysia via the sea. Following this, we have stepped up our surveillance.
“As of last year, more than 77,000 large cargo vessels and ships plied the sea routes for economic, social and political reasons. We can see an increasing trend (in terms of numbers of ships). In 2004 and 2005, there were less than 50,000 ships only.
“We believe after the implementation of the TPPA, the numbers of ships could be doubled up, as the agreement will draw more foreign investors.
“As such, the agency needs to be more vigilant and well-prepared to face any threats that come to the sea routes,” he said in a press conference at 'A day with Media and MMEA' in Kajang Prison here today.
More than 70 media practitioners took part in the shooting competition held in conjunction with the event.
Harian Metro emerged as the winner of the competition, while TV Al-Hijrah Team A and TV3 News bagged second and third places, respectively.
To bolster security, Puzi said MMEA would install two more radars in Pulau Perak in Kedah and Pulau Jarak in Penang as an effort to intensify its control in the Malacca Straits.
“There are currently a total of nine radars installed in various locations along the Malacca Strait and the installation of two more radars will create a more efficient chain of tracking system for MMEA in the area,” he added.