PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is planning to procure new radars to be placed in strategic areas, including the waters of Sarawak and the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Its director-general, Rear Admiral (Maritime) Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah, stated that the placement of radars would expand the coverage of maritime surveillance and boost enforcement efficiency.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the new radars will be integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) technology under the Malaysia Coast Guard Maritime Domain Awareness (MCGMDA) system. This integration aims to make the system capable of analysing data more comprehensively and responsively. The combination of these technologies is expected to strengthen security and ensure enforcement effectiveness in Malaysia’s waters. Mohd Rosli expressed his hope for full support from the Home Ministry to ensure the effective implementation of this technology.

Mohd Rosli emphasized that the use of AI technology is not only relevant
but is a strategic need to face maritime security challenges in the future. He noted that it would also optimize human resources and existing assets, ensuring more efficient control in the country’s waters. The MMEA welcomed the Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s recommendation during the monthly ministry gathering that all agencies under his ministry should incorporate AI in their operations to enhance service quality.

He further stressed that the agency is always proactive in exploring the use of modern technology such as AI as a strategic measure to strengthen security controls in national waters. The use of drones or autonomous boats controlled by AI technology, for instance, is viewed as being capable of conducting automatic patrols in large areas, detecting suspicious activities, and analyzing real-time data for swift action.