The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is keeping a close watch on any attempts by four escaped Indonesian terror suspects to cross over into Malaysia's borders.
Agency director Maritime Admiral Datuk Mond Amdan Kurish said they have already begun more stringent checks on vessels crossing into Malaysian waters.
"We are fully aware of it, and we are keeping tabs on any suspicious movement from the other side," he said at a press conference at the agency's headquarters here Wednesday.
About a week ago, four terror suspects were among 200 people who broke out of a prison in the city of Medan on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
The prison break happened during a riot, which local authorities said was sparked by dissatisfaction among prisoners over a power outage and frequent disruptions to water supply. Continue Reading..
The ‘Suzunami’ and ‘Kirisame’ called at Swettenham Pier for replenishment after anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden
GEORGE TOWN: MEMBERS of the media were given a tour of the Japanese destroyer JS Suzunami, which docked at the Swettenham Pier for three days recently.
Suzunami, along with the Kirisame, two vessels from the Japan Maritime Self Defence Forces (JMSDF), called at the Penang Port for replenishment before their return voyage to Japan.
Captain Junichi Shimo, who commands both vessels, said the two ships had been engaged in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden since January.
"This is the first time JMSDF pirate fighting vessels are calling at Penang Port," he said.
Shimo went on to say that JMSDF has been conducting anti-piracy operations for the past four years.
With its streets now full of cars, Lumut is no longer a sleepy fishing enclave.
Naval ships of all shapes and sizes berthing at the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut.
Before 1979, Lumut was just a quiet coastal town 84km from Ipoh. Sloping beaches and mangrove swamps provided the idyllic setting for leisure anglers.
"People used to walk around with a torchlight looking for crabs on the sandy beaches. The natural setting was perfect for spotting interesting sea creatures including hermit crabs and sea cucumbers in the shallow pools between rocks," said Peter Nunis, who fell in love with the quiet charm of the town when he moved here in 1969.
Today, after more than three decades of hosting the country's largest naval base, Lumut is more synonymous with the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) than its landscape or marine life.
In recognition of RMN's contribution to the progress and modernisation of the town, Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak officially declared Lumut a Navy Town during RMN's Diamond Jubilee, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the ruler's reign in April 2009.
They have been stuck on a ship for over a year without adequate food, water and pay. The reason: The 14 seamen are on a detained container vessel, which is involved in a legal dispute.
Seven Somali pirates were arrested in the Gulf on January 21. They arrived in Port Klang on Monday and will be investigated under Section 117 of the Criminal Prosedure Code.
The European-made Scorpene submarine is the first of two commissioned for a combined total of $961 mln
Malaysia's first submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman docked at Port Klang after its arrival this morning.
Malaysia's first submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman docked at Port Klang after its arrival this morning.
Malaysia's first ever submarine was delivered Thursday to colourful fanfare and a royal visitor, in an acquisition that the government said "completes" the country's navy.
The European-made Scorpene submarine is the first of two commissioned from French contractor DCNS and Spain's Navantia for a combined total of 3.4 billion ringgit (961 million dollars).
The second submarine is scheduled for delivery in late 2009.
The KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, named after the nation's first prime minister, sailed into a grand reception at the navy's deepwater Pulau Indah base in Port Klang, an hour's drive from the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin was given a tour of the submarine, which set sail 54 days ago from the French port of Toulon, where the vessel was built.
Naval officials said the submarine would be based in Sabah state, on Borneo island, where it will undergo fine-tuning before it is deployed in search and rescue and military exercises.
The two submarines have long attracted controversy since the deal was signed in 2002.
Malaysia's opposition claims that a 540-million-ringgit commission was paid to a close associate of now-Premier Najib Razak in brokering the deal.
The prime minister, who also attended Thursday's ceremony, has denied there was any corruption in the deal, which was made when he was defence minister.
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The first submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, is named after Malaysia's first prime minister.
Both submarines can undertake a wide range of missions, including naval blockades, information-gathering and landing or retrieval of commandos.
They can operate alone or in combination with air and sea forces.
The new generation diesel-powered Scorpene has been hailed as a benchmark in the world conventional submarine market.
It is capable of operating in coastal waters and the high seas. It is armed with wire-guided torpedoes and Exocet SM39 sub-launched, anti-surface-ship missiles.
Malaysia is the second customer for the vessel after Chile, while India is acquiring it under a slightly different deal since it is building it in its own dockyard under licence.
