Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has assured that the country's maritime tourism safety is under control and fully prepared to support the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign. Its director-general, Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah, emphasized the importance of the MMEA's role as Malaysia's main maritime law enforcement and search-and-rescue (SAR) agency in reassuring both domestic and international tourists in its waters.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, in 2025, the MMEA conducted 256 SAR operations, successfully rescuing 1,768 of 1,930 people, with 125 fatalities reported. The MMEA aims to prevent a rise in maritime accidents caused by negligence or poor safety awareness, especially among maritime tourists and operators. Mohd Rosli stressed that the agency is on high alert to ensure maritime tourism activities remain safe, secure, and standards-compliant throughout the year.
Mohd Rosli highlighted that maritime safety requires the commitment of boat operators, tourism agencies, and all involved, not just the MMEA. He emphasized the necessity of adhering to safety procedures, including wearing life jackets, carrying emergency kits and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), using registered and seaworthy boats, and checking weather conditions before venturing out to sea, to prevent accidents and loss of life.
He further noted that ahead of VM2026, the MMEA is focusing on maritime tourism hotspots, such as resort islands, coastal waters, ferry routes, and recreational sea activity sites. Their approach extends beyond enforcement to early prevention and safety monitoring to ensure tourists experience Malaysian waters as safe and well-managed.
Meanwhile, Mohd Rosli mentioned that the MMEA will celebrate its 21st anniversary tomorrow in Miri, Sarawak, under the theme "21 Tahun Maritim Malaysia: Maritim Diperkasa, Samudera Terpelihara," highlighting its ongoing commitment to safeguarding the nation's waters. The celebration aims to strengthen ties among the MMEA, maritime communities, tourism and shipping industry players, and related agencies, while promoting maritime safety and public awareness of the MMEA's role in protecting national waters.