Latest news with #Rosli
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
RM294mil MMEA vessel to arrive in Malaysia by early 2027
KUANTAN: The construction of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's (MMEA) Turkish-made Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) is progressing ahead of schedule and is expected to be completed earlier than anticipated. MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the MPMS, which will serve as a mother ship, is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia by early 2027. "Construction began in March this year and had reached 17 percent completion by June, which is about two percent ahead of schedule. The 24-month construction timeline is progressing well, and we anticipate completing the vessel ahead of the original deadline. "If it arrives before the Lima exhibition (Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition) in 2027, there are plans to showcase the ship at the event," he told reporters after launching MMEA's Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative at SMK Sungai Baging here today. Rosli said the 99-metre-long vessel, which can accommodate 70 crew members and 30 passengers, will be deployed to enhance maritime security and uphold Malaysia's sovereignty in the South China Sea. The ship, capable of operating at sea for up to 30 days without resupply, is currently being built by Istanbul-based Desan Shipyard. MPMS which includes four fast interceptor craft, two unmanned aerial vehicles, a helideck, medical facilities, and a detention centre is built with a cost of RM294 million.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- General
- New Straits Times
MMEA: Warship wrecks in Malaysian waters safe thanks to heightened patrols
KUANTAN: There have been no reports of scavengers looting sunken World War 2 warships in Malaysian waters over the past two years due to increased patrols by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the agency had intensified patrols around the sites of sunken warships within the country's territorial waters. "I can say the number of cases is zero because we (MMEA) conduct regular monitoring. Our patrol vessels and boats are out at sea monitoring all the shipwreck sites.... the last arrest was recorded in Johor in 2023. "We have made several arrests in the past and recovered scrap metal believed to have been stolen from these wrecks. Now, we constantly patrol the sites to prevent any attempts by scavengers to enter them," he said after launching MMEA's Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative at SMK Sungai Baging here today. Rosli said the strict enforcement efforts were also in response to strong interest from foreign maritime agencies, which were keen to know how MMEA was protecting the shipwrecks. He was responding to a question about whether illegal salvage operators were still operating in Malaysian waters and if there had been any reports in the past two years. In 2023, MMEA detained a foreign-registered grab dredger for looting steel and high-grade aluminium from World War 2-era shipwrecks, including the HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales, off the coast of Pahang. The vessel was seized in Johor. On the Sekolah Angkat Madani programme, Rosli said SMK Sungai Baging was chosen due to its strategic location near the Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy in Sungai Ular. He said the school, which established the Malaysian Maritime Cadet Team (Paskam) in early 2020, currently had 110 members and six of its teachers had joined the Malaysian Maritime Volunteer Reserve unit. "We now have a total of 586 Paskam members, including those from Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah and SMK Sungai Baging. "Joining Paskam provides early exposure for students to the maritime field and prepares them to join the Maritime Volunteer Reserve unit. This gives them an advantage if they choose to pursue a career with the MMEA," he said.
Daily Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Express
Sabah Federal Secretary's Office donates RM10k to orphanage
Published on: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 29, 2025 Text Size: Rosli (left) presenting a mock cheque for RM10,000 to a representative of Rumah Anak Yatim Ai Aman. Tuaran: The Sabah Federal Secretary's Office (SUP) has donated RM10,000 to Rumah Anak Yatim Al Aman as part of its continuous outreach to support welfare institutions in the State. State Federal Secretary Datuk Seri Rosli Isa said the contribution aims to strengthen ties with charitable organisations while assisting the underprivileged. 'This time, we have donated RM10,000 to a charity body, Rumah Anak Yatim Al Aman, represented by its Chairman Saupin Samintah. 'It is one of the ways we build relationships with welfare bodies, especially orphanages, in order to help those in need,' he told reporters after officiating the 2025 Sabah Federal Departments Biannual Golf Tournament here on Sunday. Commenting on the tournament, Rosli said it served as a platform to foster camaraderie among Federal civil servants in Sabah, while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. 'This is a great avenue to strengthen the bond among civil servants from Federal departments in Sabah. 'When we get to know each other better, it becomes easier for us to cooperate and carry out our duties effectively. 'We are also encouraging government personnel to take part in sports as part of a healthy lifestyle because a healthy body leads to an active mind, enabling us to perform better at work,' he said. The tournament saw participation from more than 30 Federal departments and agencies in Sabah. The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) team, led by State Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun, emerged as the team category winner. Mohamad Faizal Tahir of the Sabah National Registration Department won the individual category. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * 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
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
RM200mil in drug hauls seized by MMEA since 2020
ALOR STAR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has seized nearly RM200 million worth of drugs since 2020, reflecting its heightened readiness to tackle cross-border smuggling via the nation's waters. Its director-general, Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah, said this reinforced the Home Minister's recent statement that 80 per cent of drugs entering the country are trafficked by sea. "MMEA will never compromise when it comes to attempts to smuggle drugs into the country by sea. "Every inch of our maritime border is our responsibility," he said in a statement today. Rosli said Malaysia's waters remain a prime target for international drug syndicates, which view maritime routes as the "safer passage" into the country. He said that from 2020 to June this year, the agency recorded 117 drug-related arrests nationwide with seizures worth nearly RM200 million. "These are not small numbers. Every successful seizure potentially saves thousands of lives from the grip of drug addiction. "Therefore, MMEA will continue to intensify operations and intelligence sharing with other enforcement agencies to tackle this issue," he said. To bolster enforcement capabilities, the agency has expanded its maritime and aerial assets in recent years. Among its latest strategic assets is the KM Tun Fatimah, currently operating in the South China Sea, along with several next-generation patrol boats deployed at known smuggling hotspots. The agency is also expecting the arrival of the EX-USCG Cutter Steadfast in November this year and the AW189 helicopter in 2026. A Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) from Turkiye is slated for delivery in 2027. "These acquisitions not only strengthen our physical capabilities but also enhance our surveillance and operational capacity at sea, proving the Madani government's commitment to equipping MMEA as the nation's maritime security shield," he said. Rosli also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his attention and approval of the agency's asset requests through the Home Ministry.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
US EV policy rollback fuels China's rise in Malaysia, dims Tesla's edge
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's electric vehicle (EV) market may be on the cusp of a turning point as shifting global tides, particularly the United States' rollback of EV incentives, reshape the competitive landscape and weaken Tesla's global momentum. The US' move to end its US$7,500 federal EV tax credit and phase out emissions-related regulatory credits, signed into law on July 4, is expected to weigh on Tesla's future earnings and competitiveness, especially in price-sensitive markets. The incentives, which expire after Sept 30, had been instrumental in fueling EV adoption in the US and supporting Tesla's dominance. The company has already posted its weakest quarterly profit in over a decade, hit by falling deliveries and lower vehicle prices. With that safety net set to disappear, analysts say the door is now open for rival brands, particularly from China, to gain ground in emerging markets like Malaysia. "Brands like BYD, Great Wall Motor (ORA), and Chery are expanding aggressively through competitive pricing, faster product rollouts, and local partnerships," said automotive analyst Rosli Khan. He added that Tesla's lack of local manufacturing or assembly, along with its premium positioning, leaves it vulnerable in a price-sensitive and infrastructure-dependent market like Malaysia. "With Tesla's expansion slowing, Chinese brands can now accelerate their market dominance through local assembly and better after-sales support—areas where Tesla has been relatively absent," Rosli said. He also pointed out that Malaysian buyers are increasingly gravitating toward mid-range, functional EVs rather than high-tech, premium models, a trend that plays directly into the hands of Chinese players with localised strategies. Amid growing demand in this mid-market segment, another analyst Hezeri Samsuri said Malaysia's own EV tax incentives, set to expire at the end of 2025, could tip the scales against premium players like Tesla. "Tesla might be a strong global brand, but in Malaysia, they can be replaced by other EV brands. Once the incentives end, the gap they leave will likely be filled by various other players," said Hezeri. He also said the government must look beyond attracting EV brands and focus on ensuring a robust after-sales ecosystem, especially if foreign players begin to retreat once the tax holidays expire. Malaysia's EV tax incentives currently include full import and excise duty exemptions for fully imported EVs, road tax exemptions for EV owners and tax breaks for locally assembled models. However, with the exemptions for imported EVs and road tax set to expire at end-December, EV prices, particularly for premium imported brands like Tesla, are expected to rise significantly, weakening their competitiveness in the local market. Meanwhile, despite efforts to position Malaysia as an EV hub, both analysts agreed that the country continues to trail behind regional pacesetters like Thailand and Indonesia. "Malaysia has political stability, a strong manufacturing base, and solid port infrastructure, but delays in EV charging infrastructure, slow regulatory approvals, and inconsistent coordination between federal and state governments remain significant bottlenecks," Hezeri said. "Thailand and Indonesia offer better EV policy execution, clearer investment roadmaps, and more complete supply chain ecosystems." Even so, Rosli said Malaysia can still carve out a niche as a Tier-2 or Tier-3 manufacturing hub, especially for Chinese EV makers seeking to hedge against Western geopolitical risks, if structural reforms are implemented decisively. Looking past showrooms and into the supply chain, they said Malaysia could evolve from a passive EV consumer to a strategic contributor in the regional EV manufacturing network, particularly in high-value areas like battery systems, software integration, and electronics. Electronikar editor and analyst Shamsul Yunos said national automakers Proton and Perodua would be better served by partnering with Chinese players rather than trying to outpace them. "Malaysian automakers can forge strategic partnerships with Chinese manufacturers and focus on niche market development by leveraging their technology and supply chain," he said. Shamsul added that Malaysia's automotive policy must shift away from low-value assembly towards high-value activities such as research and development, especially in battery packaging, battery management systems and power electronics. "Regardless of the US policy shift, the last 40 years show Malaysia needs to move beyond export substitution and develop deeper technical capabilities," he said. Rosli echoed this sentiment, noting that Malaysia's mature semiconductor industry gives it a head start in EV component production, particularly in sensors, power electronics, and control systems. "The government should align investment incentives with local capability-building through talent development and supply chain localisation. "If this alignment is achieved, Malaysia could integrate more deeply into the EV manufacturing network, not just with Chinese brands but also with Japanese and Korean Tier-1 suppliers," he said, adding that such a move could position Malaysia as a strategic springboard into the Asean EV market.
