Maritime search-and-rescue ops need work, minister tells govt agencies

KUCHING – Manpower and assets must be deployed quickly by related agencies in the event of a search and rescue (SAR) operation.

State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that there seems to be a “grey area” in the roles of several government agencies when it comes to SAR operations at sea.

“Every SAR operation is an emergency. For this reason, every government agency involved in such operations is expected to come together and act fast as lives are at stake,” Karim told reporters at the Telaga Air public jetty last night.

SAR operations are ongoing for five anglers who went missing between the Karang Berumput-Tg Datu area on Sunday and for first mate Awang Omar Awang Hamsawi, who went missing on October 2 in another boat incident involving nine anglers.

In the first incident, nine of the anglers who went missing two nautical miles off Pulau Satang Besar were found afloat at sea with life jackets on. They were located and rescued by fishermen. However, the search for the missing first mate is ongoing.

Karim pointed out that the agencies involved such as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD), the Sarawak Coast Guard (SCG) and the Civil Defence Force seem to be in conflict over their roles when a sea emergency happens.

“The Sarawak Coast Guard was established by the state government for surveillance and rescue purposes, but the agency can deploy its assets when maritime disasters occur.

“I came to understand only just now that the SCG could not be deployed for SAR operations on the first day during the first incident, because it has to get permission from Kuala Lumpur when called to operate beyond a certain distance out at sea,” said Karim.

He said deep-sea areas come under the MMEA and coastal emergencies are handled by the FRD.

He also pointed out that there are issues within the federal and state governments that must be ironed out when it comes to dealing with maritime disasters as it involves saving lives. – The Vibes, October 6, 2021