SARAWAK’S newest enforcement agency, its coast guard unit, was launched today with one catamaran, a rigid hull fender boat and six 1,050hp “interceptor” boats to patrol the state’s 760km coastline.

The coast guard unit, launched by Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg this afternoon, took delivery of the catamaran, SC Tanjung Datu, on August 11 last year and the fender on October 30.

The catamaran will be primarily used as a training ship but could be used for flood evacuations.

The unit will take delivery of 18 more boats of different types – nine 12m interceptors, six 25m and three 35m patrol boats – in the next three years.

Abang Johari said the tender for the construction of six 25m patrol boats is currently being called.

He announced the formation of the coast guard on October 1, 2019, specifically to enforce the various state laws for its Fisheries Ordinance 2003, Forest Ordinance 2015, Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998 and the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958.

Marine parks, the chief minister said, will be of special focus for the coast guard.

The marine parks are the 13,124ha Similajau national park off Bintulu, the 627ha Tanjung Datu national park at the southern tip of the state, the 19,414ha Talang-Satang national park off Lundu, the 186,930ha Miri-Sibuti coral reef national park, Santubong national park (2,1650ha), Limbang mangrove national park (1,623ha), Bruit national park (8,071ha) and the huge Luconia Shoals national park (1,001,772ha).

Currently, the coast guard unit is operating out of temporary bases at the ports of Kuching, Tanjung Manis, Samalaju and Miri until their permanent bases at Sejingkat in Kuching, Tangjung Manis, Bintulu and Lawas are completed.

Abang Johari said the coast guard will complement other federal maritime enforcement agencies such as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and marine fisheries.

The state’s 2020 budget allocated RM90 million for the purchase of assets and equipment. – April 7, 2021.