KOTA KINABALU: One of the two Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) personnel who was shot in the eye in a shootout in waters off Sabah's east coast Kunak on Sunday (April 7) has lost sight in his left eye.

       MMEA director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin said that the Lahad Datu district hospital confirmed that Petty Officer Zainal Abad Komel, 45, is blinded in his left eye.

       "His condition is now stable after the surgery.

       "I visited him at the hospital and doctors confirmed that he will be blind in one eye because the bullet hit a nerve.

       "He has lost sight in one eye permanently, but his right eye is fine.

       "This incident (shooting) is very serious for us," he told a press conference in Lahad Datu on Monday (April 8).

       The other injured MMEA personnel, Leading Rate Prayrie De Cuella Jimin, 35, who was injured in both hands, is also in a stable condition.

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       Admiral Hamid said that the suspects involved in the shooting of the MMEA personnel had previously been identified as a smuggling group involved in cross border criminal activities.

       They are believed to be in the area of Suba Duyung and Batik Parang for cross-border criminal activities, he added.

       MMEA director general Maritime Admiral Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin with Esscom commander Datuk Victor Sanjos (left) at the Lahad Datu hospital.

       He said these smuggling groups had also been identified by the police.

       "We will join forces with Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) and the police to mobilise all our assets.

       "The assets from the Royal Malaysian Navy and Joint Task Force 2 (ATB2) involve two ships and 21 boats," he said.

       In addition, he said, various police units involving five patrol vessels, 26 patrol and combat boats together with MMEA's four maritime vessels and 15 patrol and assault boats are being mobilised from Lahad Datu to Semporna, Kunak and Tawau under ESSCom.

       ESSCom Commander Datuk Victor Sanjos said one of the suspects has been successfully identified as involving a foreign national who is also listed as a wanted person.

       He said that eyewitnesses have confirmed one of the suspects and they were in process of identifying the two other gunmen.

       "Of course the suspect is on our wanted list, but I can't reveal his identity because we are tracking him down to make an arrest," he said, adding that all assets under the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (EssZone) would be mobilised to capture the suspect.

       In the incident, the two MMEA personnel were injured in an exchange of fire in waters off Kampung Pangi Kunak, at about 8.30am on Sunday.