MMEA launches community service programme in Papar
Published on: Monday, September 22, 2014
PAPAR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) hopes to foster better ties with the local coastal communities here and curb maritime crimes through the launching of its 'Program Sahabat Maritim 2014', here, Saturday.Papar MP Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the programme, the first here, allows the communities to get to know the agency's roles and responsibilities in discharging their duties to protect coastal waters.It was initially known as 'Program Jiwa Murni' but underwent rebranding and is now called 'Program Sahabat Maritim'.ADVERTISEMENT "I am very pleased with MMEA for honouring my request to carry out the same programme in Papar after it was launched in Kg Palu-Palu, Kuala Penyu, last October."It is a community service programme carrying out various gotong-royong activities with the local coastal communities like building and repairing existing public facilities."In Papar, Kg Pantai Manis and Kg Kuala have been selected for the programme whereby a jungle trek in Pantai Manis beach has been improved and a toilet for men and women visitors built at the beach through the gotong-royong efforts," she said.Rosnah, who is also Works Deputy Minister, said this in her speech when launching the programme at an open hall of Kg Kuala, here. She also presented safety jackets and fish tanks to the fishermen here. ADVERTISEMENT Also present were MMEA Sabah and Labuan Operations Director Captain Adam Aziz, MMEA Sabah and Labuan Enforcement Chief Captain Zin Azman MD Yunus, Papar Assistant District Officer William Ahlan and other officials.Upgrading the jungle trek is a good move as it is suitable for recreational activities and will attract tourists to Pantai Manis beach, she said.
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Rosnah also contributed RM5,000 to the agency and coastal communities to further upgrade the jetty for better use by the fishermen from both villages.Apart from these, she said the programme also conducted a gotong-royong activity to clean up the open hall so that the locals feel comfortable using the facility for multipurpose activities."Through the programme, the local communities in both villages could render full cooperation and support to MMEA by being eyes and ears for the agency and to channel information on suspicious activities at the maritime waters.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"I was made to understand that a total of 27 places in the State have this programme launched, which shows that the agency is going down to the grassroots and discharging its social responsibility to the local communities," she said.Meanwhile, MMEA Sabah and Labuan Operation Director Adam Aziz said such programme will provide a two-way communication between the agency and the coastal communities here for better cooperation and ties. He hoped the communities would give full support and cooperation to the agency for in any gotong-royong efforts to be held here.