Hamid Amin is MMEA director-general effective Nov 6

KUALA LUMPUR: Maritime Admiral Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin has been appointed as the new Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director-general.

As of Monday (Nov 6), Hamid takes over from Maritime Adm Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som, who retired in March.

Hamid, who was born on April 19, 1964, was previously MMEA deputy director-general (Operations) and served in the Royal Malaysian Navy for 23 years before transferring to MMEA on Oct 31, 2005.

"Having a wealth of experience in conducting maritime operations and safeguarding the country, especially against transborder crimes, Hamid has held various posts including Maritime Enforcement Division staff chief at Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in 2019.

"He was also the MMEA Enforcement and Coordination division director in 2021 before he was appointed deputy director-general in March," the agency said in a statement.

It credited Hamid with strategic planning and deployment of assets that resulted in various successes through high-profile arrests and prosecutions in human trafficking and contraband smuggling cases, among others.

"He was also involved in several initiatives to improve maritime cooperation with fishermen as well as the maritime community in increasing security.

"His appointment as director-general will improve MMEA's asset capabilities and personnel competency while strengthening strategic cooperation with local and foreign enforcement agencies," the MMEA said.