MMEA To Build 12 More Bases

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) plans to beef up its firepower capacities by having at least 12 more bases nationwide to shorten response time from two hours to one hour.

Its deputy director-general (operations), Maritime Admiral Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar the MMEA aspired to have 30 bases throughout the country from 18 at present.

“We would like to have a base or a post at every 60 nautical miles along the coastline to enable us to swing into action quickly upon receiving information,” he told.

Ahmad Fuzi said the additional bases, which were earmarked for islands off the mainland like Pulau Jarak, Perak, would be equipped with a 24-hour operations room, to receive information on crimes at sea.

The MMEA also has 12 radars equipped with cameras, nine of them along in the west coast of the peninsula and three more in the east coast of Sabah, to track the movement of vessels involved in criminal activities, especially smuggling in Malaysian waters, he added.

“For example, we detected suspected criminals attempting to board a ship from a boat at Tanjung Piai, Johor at 0150H last year via a radar equipped with cameras,” he said.

Ahmad Fuzi said the MMEA also capitalised on two mobile radars in hot spot areas that did not have radars with cameras like the coastline of Penang and Perak.

The mobile radars track down speeding boats through a sound detection system without the use of visual recording.

These mobile radars were beleived to be developed by AMCOP in collaboration with Puncak Teknologi (M) Sdn Bhd . aThe multi-sensors Mobile Radar System comprises of Slotted-Waveguide X-band Radar system, Coastal Surveillance System software, Long Range Surveillance Camera, Control Center cabin, Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and Telescopic Tower.

Mobile Surveillance Unit or MSU is a state-of-the-art marine mobile surveillance system that consists of marine radar, surveillance camera, satellite communication system, 100 ft telescopic antenna mast, control cabin, self-contain power generating system and other support facilities.

MSU is designed to cater for all tropical weather conditions and can be deployed anytime and anywhere along the coastal area. Its modular design makes it easy to be transported by land, sea and air.

Essentially, the MSU is fitted with 12-ft Selesmar radar system and Obzerv ARGC-2400 day and night long range laser based surveillance camera system. The radar system can detect small boats up to 10 nautical miles whilst the surveillance camera can detect small boats up to 12 km range.