KLANG: The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is looking at setting up a new state Maritime Complex in Port Klang.

       “Currently, the agency is looking at several locations for the proposed complex,” said its deputy director-general (logistics), Rear Admiral Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim.

       “The size of the land required for the complex, without staff quarters, would be around eight hectares,” he said.

       The complex is estimated to cost between RM300mil and RM400mil.

       “We hope we will have the budget to start building the complex by next year,” he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of duties of the state’s new MMEA chief, Captain V. Siva Kumar.

       Siva takes over from Captain Mohammad Rosli Kassim, who has been promoted to MMEA intelligence division chief.

       Siva said he aimed to reduce cross-border crime and use his intelligence team to monitor all activities at sea.

       Rear Admiral Saiful Lizan said Mohammad Rosli had served the post for three years to ensure security and peace along the state’s coast.

       “Since 2018 until April this year, Selangor MMEA have conducted 6,849 checks and 257 arrests at sea,” he said.

       Rear Admiral Saiful Lizan said MMEA had taken delivery of four new helicopters this year.

       MMEA is also expected to take possession of three offshore patrol vessels (OPV), capable of being at sea for 21 days without resupplying, by the end of next year.

       “We will also be taking delivery of nine fast interceptor boats this year. These 12-metre boats are currently being built in Johor, and we will receive nine of them in three batches,” he said.