MMEA to get four new helicopters

Airborne asset: New aircraft will help enhance MMEA’s performance. — Bernama

KUANTAN: The Home Ministry has approved the procurement of four helicopters worth RM600mil for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

Its minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the helicopters would strengthen MMEA in carrying out its duties to protect the country’s sovereign waters via white hull diplomacy.

“Our economic assets such as oil and gas platforms, which are the main contributors to the country’s economic growth, are located in our territorial waters, ” he said in his speech in conjunction with the 15th anniversary and a training passing out parade for MMEA officers at Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy here yesterday.

The text of his speech was read out by Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Jamil Rakon.

Muhyiddin said there were 349 oil and gas platforms in the country’s waters in addition to nearly 77,000 cargo and oil vessels passing through the Strait of Malacca annually.He added that the ministry had agreed to provide an additional RM3mil for facility repair work at the academy, bringing the total allocation for the purpose to RM6mil this year.

He also hoped MMEA would be able to maintain the zero piracy incident in the country’s waters which they recorded last year. — Bernama