TAWAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Tawau Zone has stepped up monitoring and enforcement in the country’s border waters ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations through Ops Pagar Laut 1/2025 to tackle cross-border crime.
The operation, launched specifically for the festive season, is seen as a crucial measure to curb smuggling activities, which increase sharply during Ramadan and Aidilfitri, particularly in hotspot areas.
MMEA Tawau Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Captain Shahrizan Raman, said security controls and operations in national waters would be further strengthened, especially around Pulau Sebatik, which serves as one of the main border gateways between Malaysia and Indonesia.
“We will not be complacent at sea, as we believe that the closer we get to Hari Raya, the more of our goods will be smuggled out to neighbouring countries.
“Therefore, in this special operation for Ramadan and Aidilfitri, around 30 officers and personnel will be on duty 24 hours a day,” he said on Sunday.
Shahrizan said the MMEA Tawau preparedness for the operation had also been reinforced with a ship and two boats to handle any potential situations.
He also believed that cross-border criminal syndicates would become more cunning, using various tactics to smuggle controlled and prohibited goods across the border.
“We are focusing on items that are in high demand during Raya, such as rice, sugar and cooking oil, as well as firecrackers and fireworks,” he said.
He said that since March 10, his team had carried out 189 inspections, leading to four seizures under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
“The four seizures are estimated to be worth over RM400,000, mostly involving rice, sugar and cooking oil, suspected to be intended for Raya preparations.
“In fact, the smuggling of these goods has already started before Ramadan, as there were shortages of these supplies in the local market,” he said.
IN SANDAKAN, acoordinated operation led by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) inspected four registered jetties in Sandakan waters on
Monday, including the Persatuan Nelayan Kawasan (PNK) facility that distributes subsidised diesel to fishermen.
The inspection team, headed by District KPDN Enforcement Chief Azdy Zukkry John, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sandakan Zone Deputy Operations Director Commander Firdaus Sahaari and Sandakan Port Officer Mohammad Syukri Abdul Azis, deployed three MMEA vessels with a combined force of 21 personnel from the three participating agencies.
“This joint initiative aims to prevent misappropriation of controlled goods including cooking oil, LPG, diesel and petrol in Sandakan waters,” Azdy said, noting that all inspected trading jetties were found compliant with relevant regulations.
Azdy reminded the public that violations under the Supply Control Act 1961 carry severe penalties, individuals face fines up to RM1 million and/or three years’ imprisonment for first offenses, with increased penalties for subsequent violations.
Companies can be fined up to RM2 million for first offenses and RM5 million for subsequent breaches.
Sandakan KPDN pledged continued vigilance against subsidy leakage and encouraged consumers to report suspected violations through official channels, though Azdy noted that all complaints require thorough investigation before action can be taken.
“Subsidised goods are meant for those who truly deserve them, not for misappropriation,” he said.
