MMEA plans to install radars in Sarawak waters

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has planned to install radars in the Sarawak waters to strengthen surveillance and enhance security in the state.

Its director-general, Maritime Admiral Datuk Seri Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar said the agency currently has 14 radars in the national territorial waters but none of the object-detection system were installed in the waters off Sarawak.

He said the existing number of radars were still not enough and MMEA needed more as the use of radar was very helpful in surveillance, especially to detect enemy threats along the sea route.

"If given the go-ahead, these radars will be installed at every 60 nautical miles in the Sarawak waters which we deemed effective to enhance the maritime border control.

"However, the installation might be costly. Thus, the implementation should be well thought out so that this proposal could be implemented as planned," Ahmad Puzi said.

He was speaking at a press conference after launching the establishment of the Malaysian Maritime Volunteer Reserve Team (PSSMM) at Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex (KOMTAS) here today.

Ahmad Puzi said in addition to Sarawak, MMEA was now erecting two radars in Pulau Jarak and Pulau Perak in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as planning on building three additional radars in the Sabah waters.

"We see that the use of this radar is very effective," he said.

On the PSSMM, Ahmad Puzi said the agency had targeted participation from over 1,000 volunteers statewide to achieve a ratio of 1:1 between its volunteers and permanent staff.

The reserve team could act as the eyes and ears of the agency in Sarawak in gathering information to fight criminal activities at sea, he added.

-- BERNAMA