Entrusting coast guards with maritime law enforcement powers: lessons for Malaysia
In view of many and varied maritime threats and the growing number of maritime crimes, it is necessary for States to have coast guards with maritime law enforcement powers to secure their maritime territories and protect maritime interests. Modern coast guards play a crucial role in sustaining mari...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
International Islamic University Malaysia
2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/51348/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/51348/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/51348/13/51348.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/51348/16/51348_Entrusting%20coast%20guards%20with%20maritime%20law%20enforcement%20powers_WoS.pdf |
| Summary: | In view of many and varied maritime threats and the growing
number of maritime crimes, it is necessary for States to have coast guards with maritime law enforcement powers to secure their maritime territories and protect maritime interests. Modern coast guards play a crucial role in sustaining maritime security and their operations have become more and more sophisticated. However, in the case of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), commonly known as the Malaysian Coast Guard, it is found that it is still struggling even after twelve years of its establishment to achieve its primary objective of becoming a single maritime law enforcement agency in Malaysia. The present study finds that there seems to be a veiled competition between the MMEA on one side, and the other law enforcement bodies on the other. An analysis of the practice of coast guards of the USA, India and Japan is made to find a solution to this crucial issue revolving around Malaysia’s maritime security. The study finally concludes that the controversial section 7(3) of the MMEA Act should be amended to clearly entrust the MMEA with, and exclude other relevant agencies from, maritime law enforcement powers in the Malaysian maritime zones.
Memandangkan terdapat banyak ancaman maritim disamping
peningkatan dalam jenayah maritim, ianya menjadi kemestian buat
setiap negara untuk mempunyai pengawal pantai yang mempunyai
kuasa penguatkuasaan undang-undang maritim bagi memastikan
keselamatan sempadan dan perairan negara terpelihara. Pengawal
pantai memainkan peranan penting dalam memastikan keselamatan
maritim terjaga dan operasi mereka kini semakin canggih.
Malangnya, di Malaysia, Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim (APMM)
atau dikenali sebagai Pengawal Pantai Malaysia, masih bergelut
dengan isu memperolehi kuasa mutlak bagi penguatkuasaan
maritim walaupun setelah dua belas tahun ditubuhkan. Kajian ini
mendapati bahawa terdapat persaingan senyap antara APMM
dengan agensi penguatkuasaan lain di Malaysia. Analisa telah
dibuat pada amalan di Amerika Syarikat, India dan Jepun bagi
mencari penyelesaian yang bersesuaian untuk mengatasi masalah
ini. Kajian ini seterusnya mendapati bahawa punca permasalahan
ini ialah pentafsiran yang diberikan kepada seksyen 7(3), Akta
APMM yang seharusnya dipinda bagi memberikan kuasa mutlak
kepada APMM dan membatalkan hak penguatkuasaan kepada
agensi-agensi lain |
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