ID :
194466
Tue, 07/12/2011 - 10:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/194466
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MMEA TO BECOME A ROYAL CHARTER ORGANISATION - DPM
PUTRAJAYA, July 12 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is set to become a royal charter organisation, giving it prestige similar to those of other security forces, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.
He said the cabinet would discuss the matter and obtain the consent of the King, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, in line with MMEA's role as a single agency to monitor the country's maritime zone starting next month.
"Just like the Royal Malaysia Police, Royal Customs Department and so on, the MMEA is an important enforcement agency.
"It has now fulfilled all the criteria to become a royal charter
organisation," he said at a meeting with maritime personnel at Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here.
Present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ahmad Maslan and MMEA director-general, Maritime Admiral Mohd Amdan Kurish.
The MMEA was incepted six years ago.
Muhyiddin hoped that the royal recognition would spur MMEA's personnel to perform their duties well.
The deputy prime minister also said that a series of meetings comprising the related departments and agencies, chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Mohd Sidek Hassan, had been held to finalise arrangements to make the MMEA the country's single maritime enforcement agency.
He said agencies such as the Marine Operations Force, police and customs had agreed to hand over assets such as vessels, office complexes, jetties and posts, involving a total of 1,060 personnel, to the MMEA.
Despite the move, however, other matters concerning policies, laws,
supervision, licensing, research and development as well as conservation of maritime resources would remain under the jurisdictions of existing agencies, he said.
Prior to this, the enforcement of about 100 maritime laws and regulations were carried out by eight agencies, namely the Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Marine Operations Force, Royal Customs Department, Marine Department, Fisheries Department, Environment Department and Immigration Department.
Muhyiddin congratulated the MMEA, saying the agency's enforcement
capabilities had been gaining recognition from within the country and abroad.
"Sea robberies and piracies in the country's waters have decreased
drastically. The MMEA also saves lives and protects properties at sea," he said, adding that this had given confidence among those plying the Malaysian waters.
He added that during the first half of this year, the MMEA conducted checks on 8,135 ships and boats, and of the total, 393 were detained for various offences.
He also assured the MMEA of the government's commitment to equip the agency with assets that would turn it into a modern enforcement agency.
He hoped that MMEA's new, state-of-the-art, training centre in Gebeng, Kuantan, would propel the agency to become a renowned maritime enforcement body in Asia and globally.
He added that although the MMEA had achieved a commendable success, it should continue to enhance its capabilities to face bigger challenges in the future.
Meanwhile, the MMEA and Australian Border Protection Command signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration in maritime enforcement.
Mohd Amdan represented the MMEA while the Australian agency was by Admiral Timothy Barret. Muhyiddin and Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Milles Kupa, witnessed the event.
He said the cabinet would discuss the matter and obtain the consent of the King, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, in line with MMEA's role as a single agency to monitor the country's maritime zone starting next month.
"Just like the Royal Malaysia Police, Royal Customs Department and so on, the MMEA is an important enforcement agency.
"It has now fulfilled all the criteria to become a royal charter
organisation," he said at a meeting with maritime personnel at Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here.
Present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ahmad Maslan and MMEA director-general, Maritime Admiral Mohd Amdan Kurish.
The MMEA was incepted six years ago.
Muhyiddin hoped that the royal recognition would spur MMEA's personnel to perform their duties well.
The deputy prime minister also said that a series of meetings comprising the related departments and agencies, chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Mohd Sidek Hassan, had been held to finalise arrangements to make the MMEA the country's single maritime enforcement agency.
He said agencies such as the Marine Operations Force, police and customs had agreed to hand over assets such as vessels, office complexes, jetties and posts, involving a total of 1,060 personnel, to the MMEA.
Despite the move, however, other matters concerning policies, laws,
supervision, licensing, research and development as well as conservation of maritime resources would remain under the jurisdictions of existing agencies, he said.
Prior to this, the enforcement of about 100 maritime laws and regulations were carried out by eight agencies, namely the Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Marine Operations Force, Royal Customs Department, Marine Department, Fisheries Department, Environment Department and Immigration Department.
Muhyiddin congratulated the MMEA, saying the agency's enforcement
capabilities had been gaining recognition from within the country and abroad.
"Sea robberies and piracies in the country's waters have decreased
drastically. The MMEA also saves lives and protects properties at sea," he said, adding that this had given confidence among those plying the Malaysian waters.
He added that during the first half of this year, the MMEA conducted checks on 8,135 ships and boats, and of the total, 393 were detained for various offences.
He also assured the MMEA of the government's commitment to equip the agency with assets that would turn it into a modern enforcement agency.
He hoped that MMEA's new, state-of-the-art, training centre in Gebeng, Kuantan, would propel the agency to become a renowned maritime enforcement body in Asia and globally.
He added that although the MMEA had achieved a commendable success, it should continue to enhance its capabilities to face bigger challenges in the future.
Meanwhile, the MMEA and Australian Border Protection Command signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration in maritime enforcement.
Mohd Amdan represented the MMEA while the Australian agency was by Admiral Timothy Barret. Muhyiddin and Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Milles Kupa, witnessed the event.
