Security along waters to be tightened

School rocks: (From right) Chairman of school board Eric Lim, Liow, school development chairman Tan Han Ching and Penang MCA deputy chairman Tan Teik Cheng launching the new building development project at SJK (C) Fu Yew Seah in Madras Lane, Penang.

GEORGE TOWN: Security along Malaysian waters will be strengthened following the recent hijack of MT Orkim Harmony, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

He said vessel hijacking is a serious crime which must be addressed, adding that it was crucial not to allow piracy activities to invade Malaysian waters.

“We are grateful for a state-of-the-art security system in the Straits of Malacca. Piracy in the straits is nearly zero.

“The hijacking happened near the South China Sea and we will tighten regulations and patrols in these areas.

“We will also install more sophisticated radar equipment to cover vessels passing through Malaysian waters as a guarantee for their safety,” he told reporters at a press conference after launching the construction of a new building at SJK(C) Hu Yew Seah in Madras Lane yesterday.

Liow thanked the team who helped in the vessel’s rescue.

On the missing MH370 aircraft, Liow said the search at the current 60,000sq km radius is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

He said so far, 52,000sq km of the 60,0000sq km search area has been covered.

Liow, who is also MCA president, said the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) will expand the search mission to another 60,000sq km in the southern Indian Ocean if the plane cannot be found in the first phase of the search mission.

“We will continue until we complete the next 60,000sq km search. We have identified the areas of search, it’s still in the southern Indian Ocean and we will ensure that we cover 90-95% of the suspected flight path.

“As we complete the first phase of the 60,000sq km search area, we have actually covered 80% of the flight path.

“To extend another 60,000sq km, we will actually cover about 95% of the flight path of MH370,” he said.

He said the Government is not giving up on the search mission, which is also supported by Australia and China.

“We are with the families of the victims of MH370 and our prayers are with them to find the plane.

“Although we are almost at the end of the first 60,000sq km search area, we have promised to continue the next phase and we hope we can find the plane.

“We have told the families that if the plane is in the southern Indian Ocean, we will be able to find it because we are using the latest, newest and most modern equipment,” he said.