ATAC Global

  • About
    • ATAC Leadership
    • Vetting Process
  • Concierge Security
    • ATAC Concierge Security Membership
    • Corporate Security
    • Executive Risk Protection
    • Kidnap and Ransom
    • Private Yacht
    • Security Tips
      • Natural Disaster Tips-Preparation
    • Vulnerability Assessments
  • Security Sectors
    • Maritime Anti-Piracy
    • Land Security
    • Ports and Airports
    • Government Security Services
    • Energy Security
    • Oil and Gas
    • Cruise Ship Security
    • Private Yacht Security
    • Celebrity Security
  • Training
    • Staffing Solutions
      • Contractor Staffing Economics
      • ATAC Loadout Kits
      • ATAC Staffing FAQ
    • ATAC University
    • Capacity Building
    • UAV E-Learning
  • Robotics
    • ATAC Anti-Piracy Drone-UAV Advantage
    • ATAC UAV Quad Copter
    • Anti-Piracy Cargo UAV Video
    • Real Estate UAV Advantage
  • News
    • Most Recent News
    • Drone-UAV
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • East Africa and Indian Ocean
    • Europe and Mediterranean
    • Middle East
    • South East Asia
    • West Africa
  • ATAC Range Day®
    • ATAC Range Day® Status
    • About ATAC Range Day®
    • ATAC Range Day® Advertising and Sponsorship
    • ATAC Range Day® Media Credentialing
    • ATAC Range Day® Frequently Asked Questions
    • ATAC Range Day® Policies
  • Causes
    • White Heart Ride to the Flags
    • EOD Warrior Foundation-Andrew Bottrell
    • UAV to Red Rock Search-Rescue
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Geographic Areas of Risk / Asia Pacific / Maritime security in Malaysia

By ATAC Global

Maritime security in Malaysia

doc627dn7e8nsj108jwuikf

April 2013

As with many countries in Southeastern Asia, maritime security is a great concern and even greater challenge to the country of Malaysia. The territory of the country is divided between two regions– peninsular Malaysia, which is located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula; and Malaysian Borneo, located on the north of the Island Borneo.

Unlike archipelago nations like Indonesia or the Philippines, policing the water around a larger land mass, with no connecting waterways presents a specific challenge. This challenge is increased by the fact that including their Exclusive Economic Zone, Malaysia needs to police 574,000 square kilometers of ocean, which is nearly twice the size of the land territory of the country. Finally, because of the distance between east and west Malaysia, vessels cannot quickly travel between the two, making it necessary to have an entire fleet for each half of the country.

Aside from combatting the rising threat of piracy in the Strait of Malacca — a narrow yet vital waterway between Malaysia and Indonesia that has become a hotbed for piracy — Malaysia is also heavily invested in protecting waters it claims as it’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These waters are definitely important for fish resources, but the possibility remains that there may be oil or other more valuable stores of material underneath the ocean.

The geography of the situation requires that Malaysian maritime authorities police two areas of equal importance. They must defend the population and industry of the coast from piracy, drug trafficking and other illicit activities, but they must also police the open waters of their EEZ, making sure regional aggressors have no room to make conflicting claims.

The duties of maritime security are split between the Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Marine Police. The Royal Malaysian Navy, which leads the efforts, only has around 40 vessels. Eighteen at a time are reserved for rotating patrol duty, while the remaining are conducting training missions or other assigned specific duties.

The Navy is closely supported by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, which conducts surveillance and intelligence gathering to be shared with the Navy. The cooperation between the two organizations has always been smooth; the two branches recently joined voices in calling for maritime patrol assets that would be shared by both services.

The domestic watcher of the shores is the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, which has recently taken the lead in the civil enforcement of maritime zones. A relatively new agency, the MMEA has been in operation for less than a decade. They will soon extend their reach to policing not just the coast, but also the EEZ zone.

All three of these main agencies are challenged by lack of funding. Fleets and assets of all are aging quickly, and the main focus of their top-level officials needs to be securing funding to keep their services up to date.

 

  • Bio
  • Latest Posts
ATAC Global

ATAC Global

ATAC Global

Latest posts by ATAC Global (see all)

  • ATAC Range Day® 2020 - March 24, 2023
  • ATAC Range Day® 2019 - March 24, 2023
  • ATAC Range Day® 2018 - March 24, 2023
  • Maritime Perimeter Defense - March 24, 2023

Filed Under: Asia Pacific Tagged With: Malaysia, maritime security

  • Home
  • About ATAC
  • ATAC Maritime Security
  • ATAC Corporate Security
  • ATAC Anti Poaching
  • ATAC University
  • Areas of Risk
  • ATAC Training Courses
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Policies-Procedures and SOPs
  • ISO-PAS 28007
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright 1995 - 2019 - ATAC Global