MMEA to receive 4 helicopters, enhance Sarawak, Sabah operations

KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will receive four helicopters to boost operations throughout Sarawak and Sabah.

Home Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Ruji Ubi said the four helicopters would be stationed at the Malaysian Maritime airbase in Sandakan, Sabah which is the first of its kind in this region.

“The helicopters are estimated to have cost RM600 million which have already been approved.

“We expect to receive the four helicopters within the next 24 to 36 months,” he told reporters during an official visit to the OPV1 ship on Thursday (Jan 18).

Ruji emphasised that the helicopters would enhance air operations in Sarawak and Sabah, where another airbase is located in Subang, Selangor.

Elaborating further, Ruji disclosed that MMEA is also planning to acquire a mothership, to improve MMEA operations in East Malaysia.

Prior to his official visit, Ruji was brought in by a helicopter from Kuching International Airport (KIA) and made its landing to the OPV1’s helipad which sailed at the South China Sea.

Among those present at the official visit to the OPV1 ship were MMEA director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin and Home Ministry’s deputy secretary-general, Dr.Abdul Gapar Abu bakar.

Separately, in a statement issued by the Sarawak Maritime, they recorded major successes in 2023 with RM15.2 million worth of seized boats, fishing items, vessels, compounds, court fines, and auctions.

Similarly, it said that 5,276 vessels were inspected, 1,153 vessels searched, 74 vessels seized, and 79 cases of offense, 68 arrests and 6 Vietnam boats confiscated by the Sarawak Maritime.