Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) or in Malay; Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia (APMM) is the principal government agency tasked with maintaining law and order and coordinating search and rescue operations in the Malaysian Maritime Zone and on the high seas. It is in effect the Coast Guard of Malaysia. The Agency and it's members are part of the Malaysian Civil Service and is placed under the Prime Minister's Department. In times of war, special crisis or emergency the Agency may be placed under the command of the Malaysian Armed Forces by order of the Minister. Currently, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Defence, The Hon. Dato' Seri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the Minister responsible for the MMEA.


LOGO


ENSIGN

The history of the MMEA began with the creation of a Nucleus Team led by Datuk Abu Talib bin Haji Harun, tasked with the objective of organizing the establishment of the Agency. The Agency was formally established with the enactment of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Act 2004 (Act 633) by the Malaysian Parliament in May 2004. Subsequently, the Act was gazetted on 1 July 2004. Came into force on 15 February 2005. The Agency achieved operational status on 30 November 2005 with a soft launch. MMEA wil be officielly launched by the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia on 21 March 2006.

 
Functions of the Agency:
  • Enforce law and order under any federal law;
  • Perform maritime search and rescue;
  • Prevent and suppress the commission of an offence;
  • Lend assistance in any criminal matters on request by a foreign State as provided under Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2002 (Act 621);
  • Carry out air and coastal surveillance;
  • Provide platform and support services to any relevant agency;
  • Establish and manage maritime institutions for the training of officers of the Agency; and
  • Perform any other duty for ensuring maritime safety and security or do all matters incidental thereto.
  • Not withstanding to the above, the Agency is also responsible to the following on the high seas:
    • perform maritime search and rescue;
    • control and prevent maritime pollution;
    • prevent and suppress piracy; and
    • prevent and suppress illicit traffic in narcotic drugs.
Organization

Director General of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency

A Director General of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency appointed by the Yang Di Pertuan Agong is responsible for the direction, command, control and supervision of the Agency. The Director General is assisted by three Deputy Directors General, each responsible for Management, Operations and Logistics. The post is an open one enabling any civil, military or police officer to be appointed to the post. At present the Director General of MMEA is Vice Admiral Dato' Mohammad bin Nik, the former Royal Malaysian Navy Fleet Operation Commander.

The Organisation Structure of MMEA is as shown:

Operational Areas
The area of responsibiility of the Agency is within the Malaysian Maritime Zone which is then divided into 5 Maritime Regions consisting of 18 Maritime Districts, and 7 Promenandes as following:
MARITME REGION REGIONAL HEADQUATERS

MARITIME DISTRICT(MD)

DISTRICT
HEADQUATERS

Northern Langkawi, Kedah
MD 1
Bukit Malut, Langkawi
MD 2
Batu Uban, Penang
MD 3
Lumut, Perak
Southern Johore Bahru, Johore
MD 4
Port Klang, Selangor
MD 5
Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
MD 6
Johore Bahru, Johore
MD 7
Tanjung Sedili, Johore
Eastern Kuantan, Pahang
MD 8
Kuantan, Pahang
MD 9
Kemaman, Terengganu
MD 10
Tok Bali, Kelantan
Sarawak Kuching, Sarawak
MD 11
Kuching, Sarawak
MD 12
Bintulu, Sarawak
MD 13
Miri, Sarawak
Sabah Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
MD 14
Labuan
MD 15
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
MD 16
Kudat, Sabah
MD 17
Sandakan, Sabah
MD 18
Tawau, Sabah

MMEA Districts, Bases and Posts