Latest news with #MaritimeSafetyAwarenessDay
The Sun
29-06-2025
- The Sun
‘Take care during sea activities'
KLANG: A total of 36 deaths involving incidents in Malaysian waters were recorded as of last month, said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Maritime Air Operations Division director First Admiral Mohd Tahir Khalid. The deaths were due to multiple factors, including fishing, boating, recreational activities and bad weather. He added that data was based on 251 individuals involved in 108 incidents recorded by the agency, highlighting a need to improve public awareness on maritime safety. 'From that figure, there were 36 casualties, 203 were rescued while 12 went missing,' he told a press conference in Tanjung Harapan yesterday after launching the national Maritime Safety Awareness Day event, which was themed 'Berapung Untuk Hidup' (Float to Survive). He also said if the trend continues, the number of victims could surpass the 100 mark by the end of the year. 'In 2024, a total of 226 maritime incidents were recorded involving 1,348 individuals, of which 1,259 were rescued. From that number, 64 lives were lost and 25 remain missing.' Mohd Tahir urged all individuals involved in sea activities, including fishermen, tourists and recreational thrill-seekers, to learn how to tread water and swim and to always be mindful of personal safety, adding that mastering basic survival skills in water could save lives while waiting for help to arrive. He said fishermen and operators of sea activities claim it is uncomfortable to wear safety gear, including life jackets. 'Most of the incidents occur because the individuals were not wearing life jackets. If they had one, at the very least, they could float while waiting for help. Almost 80% of fatalities at sea were due to the absence of safety equipment. When incidents such as capsizing occur, the victims were often not wearing life jackets. 'They become complacent because they go out to sea every day without issues, just like drivers who don't wear seat belts on the road. But the fact is, they should always be prepared.' Mohd Tahir said encroachment by foreign nationals, including in cases of smuggling of illegal immigrants and drug trafficking, remains high in Selangor waterways. 'The waters of Selangor are vast, spanning 108 nautical miles, approximately 200km from Perak to Negeri Sembilan, so it is extensive,' he said, adding that MMEA monitors waters through sea patrols, aerial surveillance and radar detection. 'We also deploy aircraft and use radar along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, we have the maritime community, which act as our eyes and ears. This is an MMEA initiative that we are actively pursuing.'
The Sun
29-06-2025
- The Sun
36 maritime deaths recorded, MMEA urges safety awareness
KLANG: A total of 36 deaths involving incidents in Malaysian waters were recorded as of last month, said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Maritime Air Operations Division director First Admiral Mohd Tahir Khalid. The deaths were due to multiple factors, including fishing, boating, recreational activities and bad weather. He added that data was based on 251 individuals involved in 108 incidents recorded by the agency, highlighting a need to improve public awareness on maritime safety. 'From that figure, there were 36 casualties, 203 were rescued while 12 went missing,' he told a press conference in Tanjung Harapan yesterday after launching the national Maritime Safety Awareness Day event, which was themed 'Berapung Untuk Hidup' (Float to Survive). He also said if the trend continues, the number of victims could surpass the 100 mark by the end of the year. 'In 2024, a total of 226 maritime incidents were recorded involving 1,348 individuals, of which 1,259 were rescued. From that number, 64 lives were lost and 25 remain missing.' Mohd Tahir urged all individuals involved in sea activities, including fishermen, tourists and recreational thrill-seekers, to learn how to tread water and swim and to always be mindful of personal safety, adding that mastering basic survival skills in water could save lives while waiting for help to arrive. He said fishermen and operators of sea activities claim it is uncomfortable to wear safety gear, including life jackets. 'Most of the incidents occur because the individuals were not wearing life jackets. If they had one, at the very least, they could float while waiting for help. Almost 80% of fatalities at sea were due to the absence of safety equipment. When incidents such as capsizing occur, the victims were often not wearing life jackets. 'They become complacent because they go out to sea every day without issues, just like drivers who don't wear seat belts on the road. But the fact is, they should always be prepared.' Mohd Tahir said encroachment by foreign nationals, including in cases of smuggling of illegal immigrants and drug trafficking, remains high in Selangor waterways. 'The waters of Selangor are vast, spanning 108 nautical miles, approximately 200km from Perak to Negeri Sembilan, so it is extensive,' he said, adding that MMEA monitors waters through sea patrols, aerial surveillance and radar detection. 'We also deploy aircraft and use radar along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, we have the maritime community, which act as our eyes and ears. This is an MMEA initiative that we are actively pursuing.'
The Star
07-06-2025
- General
- The Star
MMEA: 203 people rescued in 108 search operations up to May
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has conducted 108 search-and-rescue operations up to May this year, saving 203 out of 251 victims. MMEA director-general Admiral Maritime Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said that during the same period, 36 victims lost their lives, while 12 remain missing. Sharing the 2024 statistics, he said MMEA recorded 226 cases through search and rescue operations involving 1,348 victims. 'Of the total, MMEA saved 1,259 lives, while 64 died and 25 are still missing at sea,' he said in a statement issued yesterday in conjunction with Maritime Safety Awareness Day, which has been celebrated since 2021. To enhance operational efficiency, Mohd Rosli said MMEA has developed its own standard operating procedures to ensure the effectiveness, speed and safety of every rescue operation, Bernama reported. He said the agency's responsibility to lead search-and-rescue operations in Malaysian waters, including the open sea, is stipulated under Sections 6(a) and 6(b) of the MMEA Act 2004 (Act 633), which clearly grants MMEA the mandate to lead such rescue efforts. This mandate, he added, is reinforced by National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) directive No. 1, which designates MMEA as the primary agency for maritime disasters. This authority is based on the National SAR Manual as the main reference. Mohd Rosli stressed that there is no such thing as a 'day off' for MMEA, as emergencies require immediate action regardless of time or weather. 'Assets such as patrol boats and helicopters are always on standby around the clock for deployment,' he said. Mohd Rosli said MMEA also regularly conducts search-and-rescue prevention programmes across all states and maritime zones to raise awareness of maritime safety. 'Community briefings, talks, exhibitions, brochure distribution and joint dialogues with fishermen are all part of our approach to stay connected with the maritime community,' he said.
Barnama
06-06-2025
- General
- Barnama
108 MMEA Search And Rescue Ops Conducted Up To May
PUTRAJAYA, June 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has conducted 108 search and rescue (SAR) operations up to May and rescued 203 out of the 251 victims. MMEA director-general Admiral Maritime Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said that during the same period, 36 victims lost their lives while 12 more have not been found. Sharing the 2024 statistics, he said the MMEA recorded 226 cases via the search and rescue operations (Carilamat), involving 1,348 victims. "Of the total, the MMEA saved 1,259 lives, while 64 died and 25 still missing at sea,' he said in a statement issued today in conjunction with the Maritime Safety Awareness Day (HKKM), which has been celebrated since 2021. To enhance operational efficiency, Mohd Rosli said the MMEA has developed its own Carilamat standard operating procedures (SOP) to ensure the efficiency, speed and safety of every rescue operation. He said that the responsibility of the team to lead SAR operations in the country's waters, including in the open sea, is stipulated in Sections 6(a) and 6(b) of the MMEA Act 2004 (Act 633), which clearly grants the MMEA the mandate to head SAR operations in the country. This mandate, he added, is reinforced by the National Security Council (NSC) Directive No. 20, which names the MMEA as the main agency for maritime disasters, based on the National SAR Manual (Namsar) as the primary reference. Mohd Rosli said there is no such thing as a "day off' for the MMEA because any emergency requires immediate action, regardless of time or weather conditions. "Assets such as patrol boats and helicopters are always on standby around the clock for deployment,' he said.
The Star
06-06-2025
- General
- The Star
108 SAR ops conducted up to May, says MMEA DG
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has conducted 108 search and rescue (SAR) operations up to May and rescued 203 out of the 251 victims. MMEA director-general Admiral Maritime Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said that during the same period, 36 victims lost their lives while 12 more have not been found. Sharing the 2024 statistics, he said the MMEA recorded 226 cases via the search and rescue operations (Carilamat), involving 1,348 victims. "Of the total, the MMEA saved 1,259 lives, while 64 died and 25 still missing at sea,' he said in a statement issued on Friday (June 6) in conjunction with the Maritime Safety Awareness Day (HKKM), which has been celebrated since 2021. To enhance operational efficiency, Mohd Rosli said the MMEA has developed its own Carilamat standard operating procedures (SOP) to ensure the efficiency, speed and safety of every rescue operation. He said that the responsibility of the team to lead SAR operations in the country's waters, including in the open sea, is stipulated in Sections 6(a) and 6(b) of the MMEA Act 2004 (Act 633), which clearly grants the MMEA the mandate to head SAR operations in the country. This mandate, he added, is reinforced by the National Security Council (NSC) Directive No. 20, which names the MMEA as the main agency for maritime disasters, based on the National SAR Manual (Namsar) as the primary reference. Mohd Rosli said there is no such thing as a "day off' for the MMEA because any emergency requires immediate action, regardless of time or weather conditions. "Assets such as patrol boats and helicopters are always on standby around the clock for deployment,' he said. In addition to its responsibilities in SAR operations, he said the MMEA also periodically carries out SAR Prevention programmes in all states and maritime zones to increase maritime safety awareness. "Community briefings, talks, exhibitions, brochure distributions, joint dialogues with fishermen are all part of its approach to draw close to the maritime community,' he said. - Bernama
