LAHAD DATU: Police remain firm in its stance that the marine police unit should continue to operate under their force.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razaruddin Husain reiterated this stance, emphasising the importance of the marine police in safeguarding national waters.
"For PDRM and its leadership, we maintain that the marine police unit should remain in PDRM, even though there are discussions about placing the unit under the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
"Looking at our past successes, especially as highlighted during the 77th marine police anniversary celebration in Sabah, we are committed to safeguarding the security of Sabah, particularly in the east coast.
"This area has faced issues such as illegal immigrant entries and kidnappings, but since 2020, we have reduced such incidents.
"We hope that these issues will continue to be monitored and addressed by the marine police and other agencies operating under the Eastern Sabah Security Command."
Razaruddin said this at a press conference after the 77th marine police anniversary celebration at the marine police's region 4 operational headquarters in Lahad Datu this morning.
The celebration demonstrated the marine police's "omnipresence and show of force" in Sabah's waters, showcasing their frequent operations and high commitment to maintaining maritime security, preventing intrusions and protecting marine life from exploitation.
Between January and last month, the marine police handled 7,103 cases of maritime crimes in Malaysian waters. These efforts resulted in seizures and summonses valued at RM210 million.