GEORGE TOWN: A special technical air and sea demonstration saw a display of maritime excellence during the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's 20th anniversary.
Demonstrating a rescue and enforcement operation carried out for all to view along Karpal Singh Drive, here two ships were seen battling it out and air support turned up to help in the rescue mission.
Earlier Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said since its establishment, MMEA has recorded various achievements, having from 2006 to 2024, arrested a total of 16,259 people under various offences including the Fisheries Act 1985, the Immigration Act 1959/1963, and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
"Between 2006 and 2024, MMEA has successfully detained 1,789 Foreign Fishing Vessels with over 15,162 crew members for trespassing into national waters.
"Of those, Vietnam recorded the highest number with 11,443, followed by Indonesia with 2,221 and Thailand with 956," he said in his speech at Karpal Singh Drive in George Town, Penang on Saturday (Feb 15).
Saifuddin said the Search and Rescue Operations carried out by MMEA has dealt with 3,285 rescue operations.
"Based on MMEA's search and disaster relief division statistics from 2006 to 2024, a total of 16,517 victims were involved in those rescue operations with 14,094 victims successfully rescued from various incidents," he said.
Earlier he visited the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal for the Fleet Review.