ALOR GAJAH: Two officers from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) were injured after their patrol vessel was rammed during a high-speed chase involving a speedboat suspected of carrying undocumented migrants.
Melaka and Negri Sembilan MMEA director Maritime Captain Salehuddin Zakaria said the incident occurred at about 8pm near the maritime boundary of Negri Sembilan on Tuesday (Sept 16).
He said the injured officers were aged 36 and 34 years old, respectively.
Salehuddin said the incident began when the Lumut Sea Surveillance System (SWASLA) detected a suspicious boat on Tuesday night, believed to be heading towards Tanjung Rhu waters off the Sepang coast in Selangor.
"Following this, a MMEA patrol boat that was conducting 'Ops Patkor Optima' was summoned to intercept the vessel.
"However, upon realising the presence of enforcement assets, the speedboat, fitted with three high-powered engines, acted aggressively during the pursuit and rammed into the left side of the operations boat, causing severe damage,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 17).
He said that the speedboat managed to escape.
"The collision left one officer with injuries to the nose, while the other sustained injuries to the leg and hand due to the impact," he said.
Salehuddin said both victims were taken to Hospital Port Dickson for medical attention and are reported to be in stable condition.
"The speedboat carrying the illegal immigrants is believed to have retreated from Malaysian waters after failing to enter our shoreline,” he said.
Salehuddin added that search and special operations are now being intensified to track down the suspects and the smuggling network involved.
