KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) aims to have a fleet of almost 700 vessels to safeguard the country's coastal waters by 2040, says Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
The Deputy Home Minister said the procurement of the vessels for the MMEA will be carried out in phases in line with the Malaysian Maritime Strategic Plan.
"MMEA assets will comprise 116 patrol vessels, 96 medium sized vessels and 20 large vessels.
"The agency will also be equipped with 228 vessels below 20m in length, 95 fast patrol craft and 133 rigid inflatable boats," he said when wrapping up his ministerial replies when debating the Auditor-General's Report in Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 8).
Currently, he said that the MMEA has procured seven vessels and 46 boats with eight vessels and 27 boats under procurement.
As of Sept 30 this year, Shamsul said that MMEA has 35 vessels, which are over 30 years old while 36 vessels are below 30 years old.
He added that MMEA will continue to operate these vessels by refitting them while seeking approval to replace those deemed obsolete.
On Tuesday (Oct 7), Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) lamented the condition of the fleet vessels operated by MMEA.
Compared to some nations such as Japan, he said a vessel is considered obsolete if it more than 30 years old.
He urged the government to speed up the procurement process to obtain the necessary assets for MMEA and not wait years for replacement ships to be built for the purpose.
He claimed that the waters of Sarawak, within the nation's exclusive economic zone, were frequently encroached by vessels from Vietnam and China.
