Latest news with #MuhamadSuhairyHussain
Daily Express
18-05-2025
- Daily Express
Cooking oil smuggling bid foiled
Published on: Sunday, May 18, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 18, 2025 By: Winnie Kasmir Text Size: SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle 425kg of subsidised cooking oil to a neighbouring country in an operation here. Sandakan Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, said a suspicious-looking cargo vessel was found abandoned near Kampung Sundang Laut at around 5.45pm. Advertisement 'An inspection of the boat uncovered 25 black plastic bundles containing 425 packets of subsidised cooking oil weighing 425kg,' he said. The vessel was seized under the Supply Control Act 1961 and towed to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty for further action. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
17-05-2025
- Daily Express
Philippine cross-border bids thwarted
Published on: Saturday, May 17, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 17, 2025 By: Winnie Kasmir Text Size: SANDAKAN: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted two cross-border attempts from the Philippines near northeast Pulau Berhala in separate operations, Tuesday. Sandakan Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, said in the first incident around 11.49am, Kapal Maritim Pintar (Km Pintar) detected a suspicious vessel about one nautical mile northeast of Pulau Berhala, believed to have departed from Taganak Island, Philippines and was heading into Malaysian waters. Advertisement He said, the vessel, registered under a cargo licence, was found to be carrying 14 individuals including a skipper, comprising 12 men and three women, aged between eight and 70. 'Most of the passengers were non-citizens and did not possess any valid identification documents. 'One of the passengers attempted to bribe an enforcement officer with cash, but the attempt was promptly rejected, and the money was confiscated as evidence,' he said in a statement, Wednesday. The vessel and its passengers were detained and brought to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty at 2.53pm for further action. Advertisement The case is being investigated under the Sabah Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002, Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009. In a separate operation at around 12 noon on the same day, another vessel with no registration number – dubbed a 'ghost boat' – was intercepted approximately 4.3 nautical miles from Pulau Berhala. Suhairy said inspections revealed that the boat was operated by a Filipino skipper who only possessed a MyKas identity document, along with two foreign crew members and one Malaysian. According to him, further inspection uncovered 12 jerry cans filled with an estimated 300 litres of petrol, in addition to 700 litres stored in the main tank to power three 250-horsepower outboard engines. 'The fuel is believed to be used for regular travel between Malaysia and the Philippines,' he said. Offences detected included operating an unregistered and unlicensed boat under the Sabah Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002 and transporting fuel without a valid permit under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. 'This is more than just an illegal boat – it is a floating death trap loaded with flammable materials and no safety features. The vessel is suspected to be involved in covert cross-border activities,' he said. All suspects and vessels have been taken to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty for further investigation by MMEA investigators. 'We reiterate our commitment to tightening border control and will not compromise on any attempts involving smuggling, human trafficking, or illegal entry,' he said. The public is urged to channel any information through the emergency line 999 or contact the Sandakan Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-229504 for immediate action. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
16-05-2025
- The Star
Attempt to smuggle subsidised cooking oil off Sandakan coast foiled
KOTA KINABALU: An attempt to smuggle 425kg of subsidised cooking oil was foiled by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) during a joint enforcement operation off the coast of Kampung Sundang Laut in Sandakan. The seizure was made during a patrol by the Sandakan Maritime Zone at around 5.45pm, when officers came across an abandoned small cargo vessel in suspicious circumstances, the MMEA said in a statement on Friday (May 16). "A closer inspection revealed 25 black plastic packages containing 425 packs of subsidised cooking oil, believed to be prepared for smuggling out of the country without the required permits," said Sandakan Maritime Zone director Capt Muhamad Suhairy Hussain. The confiscated items were seized under the Supply Control Act 1961, and the vessel has been towed to the Sandakan Maritime Zone jetty for further action. The MMEA stressed that it will not compromise in its efforts to combat the smuggling of controlled goods, which can threaten the nation's economy and undermine the rights of its citizens. Members of the public, especially those in the maritime community, are urged to report any suspicious activities at sea.
Daily Express
16-05-2025
- Daily Express
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency foils 2 cross-border attempts off Sandakan, nabs 19
Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025 Text Size: Some of the 19 detained. SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 19 individuals simultaneously, thwarting two attempts to cross the border from the Philippines in separate operations in the northeast of Pulau Berhala, here, last Tuesday. The Sandakan Maritime Zone Director, Captain (Maritime) Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, said the 19 detainees were aged from eight to 70 years old, and there were three women among them, while the majority of the detainees did not possess valid identification documents. Advertisement 'The first incident occurred at 11.49am when KM Pintar detected a suspicious vessel about one nautical mile from the northeast of Berhala, believed to be from Taganak Island, Philippines. 'The vessel was carrying 12 men, including the skipper and three women, one of whom attempted to bribe the on-duty officers but failed, and the money was seized as evidence. 'At noon, the operation team intercepted a 'ghost boat' at a position 4.3 nautical miles from Pulau Berhala, with four men including a local citizen on board. 'They found 12 drums containing 300 liters of petrol, in addition to 700 liters of petrol filled in the boat's main tank. This fuel is believed to be used for journeys between Malaysia and the Philippines,' he said in a statement here today. Muhamad Suhairy also described the discovery of petrol as a floating death trap because the small boat was overloaded with fuel without any safety features, and it is believed that this boat was involved in silent cross-border activities. He said both cases will be investigated under the Sabah Ports and Harbors Enactment 2002, the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, including the Supply Control Act 1961. He urged the public with any information related to cross-border crime to contact the agency. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
15-05-2025
- Malay Mail
MMEA foils illegal crossings near Sandakan, detains 19 including fuel-laden ‘ghost boat'
SANDAKAN, May 15 — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 19 individuals simultaneously, thwarting two attempts to cross the border from the Philippines in separate operations in the north-east of Pulau Berhala here, last Tuesday. The Sandakan Maritime Zone Director, Captain (Maritime) Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said the 19 detainees ranged in age from eight to 70 years old, and there were three women among them, while the majority of the detainees did not possess valid identification documents. 'The first incident occurred at 11.49am when KM Pintar detected a suspicious vessel about one nautical mile from the north-east of Berhala, believed to be from Taganak Island, Philippines. 'The vessel was carrying 12 men including the skipper and three women, one of whom attempted to bribe the on-duty officers but failed, and the money was seized as evidence. 'At 12 noon, the operation team intercepted a 'ghost boat' at a position 4.3 nautical miles from Pulau Berhala, with four men including a local citizen on board. 'They found 12 drums containing 300 liters of petrol, in addition to 700 liters of petrol filled in the boat's main tank. This fuel is believed to be used for journeys between Malaysia and the Philippines,' he said in a statement here today. Muhamad Suhairy also described the discovery of petrol as a floating death trap because the small boat was overloaded with fuel without any safety features, and it is believed that this boat was involved in silent cross-border activities. He said both cases will be investigated under the Sabah Ports and Harbors Enactment 2002, the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, including the Supply Control Act 1961. He urged the public with any information related to cross-border crime to contact the agency. — Bernama
