PORT KLANG: Human traffickers, used to operating under the cover of darkness, will soon discover that the night won't be a deterrent to those hunting them.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has been given a new tool in their fight against the people smugglers in the form of a highly-sophisticated Infra Red Camera System (IRCS).
The Japanese-made surveillance camera has been fitted onto MMEA vessel KM Marlin.
The camera can zoom on objects as far as two nautical miles away. It can also detect body heat and human movements from suspicious boats at night.
MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar said boats with many people onboard in the middle of the night will definitely raise suspicion.
"The KM Marlin will serve as a mothership where it can contact smaller vessels around it to inspect suspicious vessels.
"This technology can help us lower human-trafficking cases," he said.
Puzi was speaking after the handing over ceremony of the camera system which took place on KM Marlin at the National Hydrographic Centre, here today.
The RM1.8 million camera system was a gift to the MMEA by the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) with the cooperation of Tokyo-based KSK Corporation.
The ceremony was also historic as KM Marlin was also a gift from the Japanese government to Malaysia in 2006. The vessel is meant to be used as a training platform for ships, enforcement as well as search and rescue (SAR) operations for maritime officers and personnel.
Puzi said the installation of the camera system which took about a year, has strengthened enforcement at sea, as well as for SAR missions.
He said apart from detecting body heat, it also has the ability to penetrate thick fog in dark conditions.
"IRCS is the last model where its technology has been upgraded, compared to the old models that are currently used by the Japanese Coast Guard vessels.
"The camera is equipped with a 150mm lens which records objects or targets from a far distance, which would also assist in prosecuting cases in court.
"We can detect movements on boats that we want to get closer to, stop or wish to inspect. We are also able to get a clear picture of a situation like how many people are on board and if they have anything in their hands. All this prepares us to face any threats.
"MMEA will evaluate the effectiveness of the camera system for six months. If helps in the our current operations, we will work towards getting the system to be incorporated in all our assets," said Puzi.
The ceremony was also attended by a JICA delegation headed by Kojiro Matsumoto and KSK Corporation president Ryoji Shimusaka.