MMEA Recieves Three New AgustaWestland Choppers

09 Desember 2010

MMEA's AW-139 helicopter (photo : rotor)

SUBANG JAYA : The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has officially received three new AgustaWestland 139 Helicopters fromAgustaWestland in a ceremony held MMEA Air Station, Subang today.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin was present to witness the delivery of the helicopter to Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish who is the Chief Director for MMEA by AgustaWestland Inc's Vice-President, Mr Giacomo Saporano.

The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, Datuk Ahmad Maslan, Chief Director Maritime Malaysia's Enforcment Affairs Division and several other heads and government officials from security and public agencies.

Acquiring the helicopters is considered another historical event in Maritime Malaysia's development. Since its operational launch in late 2005, Maritime Malaysia has moved a step forward in its effort to improve its operational ability especially in the core duty to enforce law in the Malaysian Maritime Zone, and Search and Rescue in the seas.

According to Amdan, in the 9th Malaysia Plan, Maritime Malaysia has been provided with air assets which are two Bombardier 415MP from Canada which was received in September 2008, three light medium helicopters AS365 N3 Dauphin from France which was received in June 2007 and the latest three medium class helicopters AW139 from Italy.

He added that those aircrafts complete the unified enforcement system which contains elements of sea vessels, aircrafts, radar detection system, and command and control. Therefore, with the new AW139 helicopter, it will enhance MMEA's ability to implement its duty to safeguard the maritime zone and sea lines of communication (SLOC).

"In par with the government's transformation plan, MMEA shall optimize its usage of assets based on financial affordability without compromizing the performance operation. To ensure that duty can be implemented effectively, we will act based on new ideas and innovation," he added.

(Malaysian Digest)