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Sandakan: Two Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) vessels – KM Satria from South Region in the peninsula and KM Bijak from Sarawak – have been deployed to assist in ensuring security off the waters of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), particularly Sandakan and Tawau, under "Ops Pluto Timur" duty. Sandakan Maritime Enforcement Chief A. Razak Abd Rahman said for Sandakan, the operation was conducted by the two vessels off Pulau Jambongan and Pulau Langkayan waters.

"The vessels will begin their duties in Tawau beginning Wednesday, before returning to their respective districts on Sept 18 for their next duty," he said.

He said this during a media conference right after greeting KM Satria and KM Bijak together with its officers and crew at the Sandakan MMEA jetty, Wednesday.

KM Satria is led by Leftenan Commander Eizanizam Muhammad Eng, while KM Bijak is led by Leftenan Commander Nicholas Jugah anak Sanji.

A. Razak expressed appreciation for the presence of both vessels to Sandakan which is responsible for Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Beluran.

He said MMEA officers and personnel on duty in these areas are responsible to control and monitor any form of intrusion or crime at sea with the existing assets and are on duty round-the-clock on rotation, adding that no arrests were made throughout the operation in Sandakan.

Meanwhile, Eizanizam said, with sophisticated equipment and radar as well as combined manpower from officers and personnel from Sabah and Sarawak on board KM Satria, he is confident there would be no problems in conducting duties off the State's waters and hoped such assistance would help prevent crime at sea.

The vessel was just received from Australia in April this year and the deployment of KM Satria from the South Region in the peninsula to Sandakan is the furthest deployment for it to date.

The vessel was also involved in the special operation in Kuching and is now here to assist Sandakan and Tawau.

KM Bijak commander Nicholas Jugah said it was the first time for the vessel to come to Sabah and they are glad to be of assistance in ensuring security off the waters of Sabah, particularly in Sandakan and Tawau which is also under Esszone.