According to Bernama, the lack of coordination between enforecement agencies and departments coupled with the lack or damage of assets have led to several issues in the Malayasian Maritime Zone (ZMM).
“Due to these reasons, it is possible for items to be smuggled, borders to be breached, and the presence of illegal immigrants and fishermen in the ZMM,” the 2018 series 3 report wrote.
Illegal crossings
However, what attracted Malaysians’ attention in the report was a shocking revelation – our waters have been breached 89 times by the China Coast Guards as well as China navy ships between 2016 to 2019.
It is said that their presence was due to their claims of the Beting Patinggi Ali (BPA) in the South China Sea.
“Five diplomatic protest notes were issued to China for the breach of Malaysian waters along the South China Sea after 29 reports were filed by the Malaysian Navy from 2018 to 2019,” the report noted.
The report concluded that the breach especially in the BPA area poses a national threat to the safety of the country and the ZMM.
Let's hope we can find a solution to this before things escalate for the worse.