SUBANG: The remaining three AW189 helicopters will be delivered to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) by December this year, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister, who witnessed the handing over of the first of such aircraft on Thursday (Aug 13), said the contract for the helicopters is worth RM529mil.
"This is the first of four helicopters, with the remaining three scheduled to arrive in December.
"The contract is worth RM529mil, and I am grateful that the project has been completed," he told reporters after the handing-over ceremony.
Saifuddin Nasution said the delivery of this new asset will strengthen MMEA's aerial fleet.
"With this additional aircraft, the agency will have six.
"By the end of this year, we will receive another three, bringing the total to nine.
"It will certainly boost the morale of MMEA personnel because they know that while carrying out their important duties of monitoring various threats at sea, they have the strong backing and support of the Home Ministry and the government," he added.
The new asset will enhance MMEA’s capabilities in surveillance, search and rescue, as well as special operations, Saifuddin Nasution said.
"This also demonstrates the government’s strong confidence in MMEA in safeguarding our maritime security.
"We also expect the delivery of a mothership in the first quarter of next year," he said.
On challenges posed by the additional assets, Saifuddin Nasution said the biggest challenge is to ensure that, in terms of capacity building and training, MMEA continues to improve the competency of its personnel.
"You can have superior technology and the latest infrastructure, but ultimately, everything depends on the people responsible for operating the system.
"So, I strongly hope that the MMEA leadership will really focus on upgrading the competency of its staff. That is the most important thing," he said.
