LAHAD DATU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) successfully conducted two separate operations in the east coast of Sabah on Monday, resulting in a rescue mission and the busting of a smuggling attempt.
In Kunak, six individuals were rescued after a fiberglass boat carrying water supplies began leaking due to a collision with floating debris off Pulau Timbun Mata waters.
The victims included a father, 37, and his two children, aged 6 and 10, MMEA Lahad Datu zone director Komander Maritim Dzulfikhar Ali said.
According to Dzulfikhar, a MMEA boat was despatched to the site on being alerted by Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre Kota Kinabalu at 1.45pm.
Meanwhile, a MMEA patrol boat detained a kumpit or Filipino wooden cargo boat departing Sandakan for carrying subsidised goods without approval 0.8 nautical miles from Tanjung Aru waters, Sandakan.
The intercepted vessel was found carrying 50,000 litres of petrol (250 barrels), 3,000 litres of diesel (15 barrels) and 20 cylinders of LPG, MMEA Sandakan Director Kepten Maritim Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said.
Muhamad Suhairy said eight crew members aged 27 to 50, and six passengers (4 men and 2 women) aged 16 to 41, all foreigners, were also nabbed during the operation at 1.05am.
“The total seizure is estimated to be worth RM830,000. The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1962, Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, and Immigration Act 1959/63,” Muhamad Suhairy said
In another development, the Civil Defence Force (APM) removed a 20-foot tree blocking Airport Road on Monday evening.
The APM team responded at 6.57pm after a police alert, using chainsaws to clear the obstruction by 7.16pm. No injuries were reported. Six APM personnel and firemen participated in the cleanup, restoring traffic flow to Sandakan Airport. – James Leong
