Latest news with #MohdTahirKhalid
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
‘Take care during sea activities'
KLANG: A total of 36 deaths involving incidents in Malaysian waters were recorded as of last month, said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Maritime Air Operations Division director First Admiral Mohd Tahir Khalid. The deaths were due to multiple factors, including fishing, boating, recreational activities and bad weather. He added that data was based on 251 individuals involved in 108 incidents recorded by the agency, highlighting a need to improve public awareness on maritime safety. 'From that figure, there were 36 casualties, 203 were rescued while 12 went missing,' he told a press conference in Tanjung Harapan yesterday after launching the national Maritime Safety Awareness Day event, which was themed 'Berapung Untuk Hidup' (Float to Survive). He also said if the trend continues, the number of victims could surpass the 100 mark by the end of the year. 'In 2024, a total of 226 maritime incidents were recorded involving 1,348 individuals, of which 1,259 were rescued. From that number, 64 lives were lost and 25 remain missing.' Mohd Tahir urged all individuals involved in sea activities, including fishermen, tourists and recreational thrill-seekers, to learn how to tread water and swim and to always be mindful of personal safety, adding that mastering basic survival skills in water could save lives while waiting for help to arrive. He said fishermen and operators of sea activities claim it is uncomfortable to wear safety gear, including life jackets. 'Most of the incidents occur because the individuals were not wearing life jackets. If they had one, at the very least, they could float while waiting for help. Almost 80% of fatalities at sea were due to the absence of safety equipment. When incidents such as capsizing occur, the victims were often not wearing life jackets. 'They become complacent because they go out to sea every day without issues, just like drivers who don't wear seat belts on the road. But the fact is, they should always be prepared.' Mohd Tahir said encroachment by foreign nationals, including in cases of smuggling of illegal immigrants and drug trafficking, remains high in Selangor waterways. 'The waters of Selangor are vast, spanning 108 nautical miles, approximately 200km from Perak to Negeri Sembilan, so it is extensive,' he said, adding that MMEA monitors waters through sea patrols, aerial surveillance and radar detection. 'We also deploy aircraft and use radar along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, we have the maritime community, which act as our eyes and ears. This is an MMEA initiative that we are actively pursuing.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
36 maritime deaths recorded, MMEA urges safety awareness
KLANG: A total of 36 deaths involving incidents in Malaysian waters were recorded as of last month, said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Maritime Air Operations Division director First Admiral Mohd Tahir Khalid. The deaths were due to multiple factors, including fishing, boating, recreational activities and bad weather. He added that data was based on 251 individuals involved in 108 incidents recorded by the agency, highlighting a need to improve public awareness on maritime safety. 'From that figure, there were 36 casualties, 203 were rescued while 12 went missing,' he told a press conference in Tanjung Harapan yesterday after launching the national Maritime Safety Awareness Day event, which was themed 'Berapung Untuk Hidup' (Float to Survive). He also said if the trend continues, the number of victims could surpass the 100 mark by the end of the year. 'In 2024, a total of 226 maritime incidents were recorded involving 1,348 individuals, of which 1,259 were rescued. From that number, 64 lives were lost and 25 remain missing.' Mohd Tahir urged all individuals involved in sea activities, including fishermen, tourists and recreational thrill-seekers, to learn how to tread water and swim and to always be mindful of personal safety, adding that mastering basic survival skills in water could save lives while waiting for help to arrive. He said fishermen and operators of sea activities claim it is uncomfortable to wear safety gear, including life jackets. 'Most of the incidents occur because the individuals were not wearing life jackets. If they had one, at the very least, they could float while waiting for help. Almost 80% of fatalities at sea were due to the absence of safety equipment. When incidents such as capsizing occur, the victims were often not wearing life jackets. 'They become complacent because they go out to sea every day without issues, just like drivers who don't wear seat belts on the road. But the fact is, they should always be prepared.' Mohd Tahir said encroachment by foreign nationals, including in cases of smuggling of illegal immigrants and drug trafficking, remains high in Selangor waterways. 'The waters of Selangor are vast, spanning 108 nautical miles, approximately 200km from Perak to Negeri Sembilan, so it is extensive,' he said, adding that MMEA monitors waters through sea patrols, aerial surveillance and radar detection. 'We also deploy aircraft and use radar along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, we have the maritime community, which act as our eyes and ears. This is an MMEA initiative that we are actively pursuing.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
80% of maritime accidents in Malaysia due to missing life jackets
KLANG: Nearly 80 per cent of the 226 maritime accidents recorded last year occurred because victims failed to wear life jackets, according to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The agency revealed that these incidents involved 1,348 individuals, with 1,259 rescued, 64 dead, and 25 still missing. From January to May this year, 108 cases were reported, affecting 251 victims. Of these, 36 died, 12 remain missing, and 203 were rescued. Maritime First Admiral Mohd Tahir Khalid, director of MMEA's Air Operations Division, warned that fatalities could double by year-end if the trend continues. Speaking at the 2025 Maritime Safety Awareness Day event in Tanjung Harapan, Mohd Tahir stressed the need for heightened safety awareness, especially among high-risk groups like fishermen. He noted that MMEA's average response time to accidents is up to two hours, making life jackets crucial for survival. 'Wearing safety gear during the critical window is essential, as rescue teams are dispatched as quickly as possible by boat or helicopter,' he said. Many victims, including seasoned fishermen, neglect life jackets due to discomfort, despite regulations requiring vessels to carry them. The annual event, themed 'Float to Live', marks the 2006 transfer of maritime search and rescue (CARILAMAT) coordination from the Marine Department to MMEA. Selangor MMEA director Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh also attended the ceremony.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
80pct of sea deaths due to life jacket neglect
PORT KLANG: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) recorded that 80 per cent of sea-related fatalities last year were due to victims not wearing life jackets while engaged in maritime activities. MMEA Air Operations Division director Maritime First Admiral Mohd Tahir Khalid said there were 226 recorded maritime incidents in 2024 involving 1,348 victims. Of these, 1,259 were rescued, 64 died, and 25 remain missing. As of 31 May this year, 108 cases have already been reported, involving 251 victims, of which 203 of them were rescued, 36 died, and 12 are still missing. "Emergencies or accidents at sea usually happen when individuals are not wearing life jackets. "If they had been wearing one, they could at least have stayed afloat while awaiting rescue. "Most deaths or disappearances at sea, nearly 80 per cent, are due to the absence of personal safety equipment, specifically life jackets. "When a vessel capsizes or someone falls overboard, we often find the victims were not wearing any emergency gear at the time. "Many people say life jackets are uncomfortable, especially while engaging in sea-based activities. "But we consistently advise that they wear them," he said at a press conference after officiating the 2025 Maritime Safety Awareness Day (HKKM) celebration, themed Float to Live, held at Persiaran Kapal Bugis, Tanjung Harapan. He said there are now various types of compact and easy-to-wear personal safety equipment available. Also present was Selangor Maritime director, Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh. Mohd Tahir said the current figures were alarming and, if the trend continues, fatalities could potentially double by the end of the year, possibly reaching close to 100 deaths. "As such, there is an urgent need to enhance public awareness of maritime safety, not only among the maritime community but also the general public who may be at risk while at sea. "Through today's programme theme, the MMEA urges the public to reassess their level of preparedness and learn proper floating techniques. "This isn't just for fishermen or seafarers; it applies to anyone who might find themselves at sea, whether for work or recreation," he said. He said HKKM is not merely a commemorative event but a strategic initiative to cultivate understanding and awareness in the community about the importance of safety at sea, whether for livelihood or leisure. "Float to Live is a highly relevant theme, as floating is one of the most basic and vital survival skills in an emergency at sea. "Research shows that many victims of maritime incidents could have been saved if they had the basic knowledge and skills to survive while awaiting help. "I am confident that if these skills are widely practised by all segments of society, we can reduce the number of incidents and fatalities at sea," he said. On 7 June, police confirmed that six locals involved in a capsized boat incident about 0.3 nautical miles west of Tanjung Harapan, Port Klang, on the evening of 6 June, were not wearing life jackets. The deceased were identified as husband and wife Gan Hon Tat, 32, and Careen Man, 29; their three-year-old son Darren Gan; boat owner Cheu Son Hin, 50; and Fong Yong Sen, 29. Another victim, Chang Yan Qin Alvin, 17, survived.
