PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has conducted 108 search-and-rescue operations up to May this year, saving 203 out of 251 victims.
MMEA director-general Admiral Maritime Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said that during the same period, 36 victims lost their lives, while 12 remain missing.
Sharing the 2024 statistics, he said MMEA recorded 226 cases through search and rescue operations involving 1,348 victims.
“Of the total, MMEA saved 1,259 lives, while 64 died and 25 are still missing at sea,” he said in a statement issued yesterday in conjunction with Maritime Safety Awareness Day, which has been celebrated since 2021.
To enhance operational efficiency, Mohd Rosli said MMEA has developed its own standard operating procedures to ensure the effectiveness, speed and safety of every rescue operation, Bernama reported.
He said the agency’s responsibility to lead search-and-rescue operations in Malaysian waters, including the open sea, is stipulated under Sections 6(a) and 6(b) of the MMEA Act 2004 (Act 633), which clearly grants MMEA the mandate to lead such rescue efforts.
This mandate, he added, is reinforced by National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) directive No. 1, which designates MMEA as the primary agency for maritime disasters.
This authority is based on the National SAR Manual as the main reference.
Mohd Rosli stressed that there is no such thing as a “day off” for MMEA, as emergencies require immediate action regardless of time or weather.
“Assets such as patrol boats and helicopters are always on standby around the clock for deployment,” he said.
Mohd Rosli said MMEA also regularly conducts search-and-rescue prevention programmes across all states and maritime zones to raise awareness of maritime safety.
“Community briefings, talks, exhibitions, brochure distribution and joint dialogues with fishermen are all part of our approach to stay connected with the maritime community,” he said.
