MMEA monitoring social media promoting illegal migrant transport services

New Straits Times

a day ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is monitoring social media accounts promoting illegal migrant transport services and will work with the police and other agencies to investigate and act against those involved.
Its director-general, Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah, said this follows promotions by syndicates and irresponsible individuals offering such services to foreigners without valid documents, using unregulated maritime routes.
He said such activities not only violate national laws but also pose a threat to the country's security and sovereignty.
"Aside from breaking the law, these actions endanger lives. The parties involved do not consider safety measures, such as providing life jackets or flotation devices, and often overload the boats beyond their capacity," he said.
Rosli added that the MMEA will also report these promotional activities to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block the identified social media accounts from continuing to advertise the services.
"The MMEA will not compromise and will not hesitate to take more aggressive measures, particularly by increasing patrols and enforcement operations along the nation's maritime borders.
"We have also deployed aircraft to conduct aerial surveillance and enhanced radar monitoring under the Sea Surveillance System (Swasla) to detect the presence of foreign boats," he said.
As of 2024, he said a total of 68 attempts to smuggle undocumented migrants had been successfully foiled, resulting in the arrest of 236 individuals from various countries.
He also urged the public, especially the fishing community and coastal residents, to serve as the eyes and ears of enforcement agencies by reporting any suspicious activities.
"Information can be reported via the 999 emergency hotline or to the nearest MMEA operations centre for immediate action," he said.