General : Tender Process For Sabah SWASLA Phase Two To Begin By Year-end - Shamsul Anuar

The Malaysian government has approved the expansion of the Sabah Sea Surveillance System (SWASLA) Phase Two to include Malawali Island and Sandakan, aiming to bolster the country's maritime surveillance capabilities. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah announced this during a recent House session, stating that the project aligns with the First Rolling Plan of the 13th Malaysia Plan for 2026.

The tender process for this expansion is expected to commence by year-end. Currently, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) operates 15 Remote Sensored Site (RSS) radar stations under SWASLA, with 12 stationed along the Strait of Melaka and three off Sabah's west coast. These stations function continuously, providing 24/7 surveillance within their designated areas.

However, Shamsul Anuar noted that the ongoing operation of these stations does not ensure complete coverage of Malaysian waters, as MMEA relies on ships and boats to patrol areas outside the system's reach. The government has previously approved funding for SWASLA development in Sarawak under the Fourth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) for 2024.

A study on SWASLA development along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is also under consideration, with the tender process for this study to begin soon. To enhance maritime surveillance, Shamsul Anuar highlighted the shift from a 'detect-and-act' approach to a more integrated system focusing on early detection, target identification, and rapid response.

This entails expanding radar coverage, deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), modernizing assets, improving operational information integration, and procuring two UAV-equipped vessels. Despite the progress, MMEA currently lacks a dedicated satellite for continuous maritime monitoring, relying mostly on satellite technology for search and rescue operations.

In the past year, MMEA recorded 834 smuggling cases, resulting in seizures valued at RM257.55 million. However, Shamsul Anuar emphasized that enforcement effectiveness should not solely be measured by seizure numbers. Instead, the government prioritizes dismantling the entire smuggling chain through comprehensive detection, investigation, seizure, prosecution, and intelligence sharing, along with targeting logistics networks and supporting entities.

To address remaining gaps in MMEA's asset capabilities, the government is expanding the SWASLA network, procuring strategic assets, and implementing programs to modernize MMEA's operational vessels and boats.