KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has been appointed as the leading agency for the coordination of air surveillance activities in the country’s waters.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chaired the High Level Committee (HLC) meeting on the coordination of the use of government air assets (Bill No 1/2017), said MMEA’s appointment was based on its responsibility as spelled out in the MMEA Act 2004.
Among the responsibilities mentioned is to safeguard the well-being and security of the Malaysian Maritime Zone.
“Besides that, the MMEA's aircraft are also registered under the regulation of the Directorate General Technical Airworthiness (DGTA) that give it the freedom to fly according to the height required, by having the configuration and specification needed in operations especially for Search and Rescue mission.
“The government hopes the coordination of the use of air assets will help to enhance public’s confidence in the capability and our level of preparedness in using the air assets to safeguard the country’s waters and airspace,” he said in a statement.
Zahid said the government has always priorities the sovereignty and security of the country’s maritime and airspace, adding that there was a need to coordinate related enforcement agencies to ensure the effectiveness of airspace surveillance in the country’s waters.
“As such, the effectiveness of airspace surveillance activities in the country's waters should be further enhanced through the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) concept where assets in the government agencies can be collaborated including at the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) and certain areas in Sarawak,” he added.
The HLC was formed following the Cabinet decision on Dec 21, 2016 and July 12, 2017, to coordinate and optimise the use of air assets owned by the government agencies.
The first meeting was held on Wednesday at the Parliament.
It was attended by relevant ministers, deputy ministers, secretary-general and head of departments and agencies.