ALOR SETAR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has clarified that a recent incident involving a boat carrying an estimated 250 to 280 migrants, reported to have capsized in the Andaman Sea, did not occur within Malaysian waters.
MMEA director-general Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the incident falls outside the agency's jurisdiction and operational responsibility.
He added that while the agency has received information about the incident, it is currently seeking intelligence-sharing cooperation with neighbouring countries to obtain further updates.
"Any search and rescue operation at sea is subject to the country with jurisdiction over the location of the incident, in accordance with international maritime conventions," he said in a statement on Friday (April 17).
However, he said MMEA would mobilise its assets if there were reports of survivors drifting into or bodies being found within Malaysian waters.
Meanwhile, he said MMEA units in Kedah and Perlis have not activated Ops Guard, but assets have been deployed around the northern waters of Langkawi Island as a precautionary measure.
"Monitoring is also being conducted using radar systems at Tanjung Kemarung to detect any movement along the country's maritime borders," he said.
Mohd Rosli also urged the public to refrain from speculating or spreading unverified information that could mislead the public and undermine confidence in enforcement agencies.
He stressed that the MMEA remains committed to strengthening patrols and surveillance to ensure the security and integrity of Malaysia's waters are maintained. – Bernama
