Marine Operations Force - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Marine Operations Force (Abbreviation

Abbreviation

An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...

: MOF; ; PGM) is the Marine Police

Water police

Water police, also called harbour patrols, port police, marine/maritime police, nautical patrols, bay constables or river police, are police officers, usually a department of a larger police organisation, who patrol in water craft...

division of the Royal Malaysia Police tasked with maintaining law and order and coordinating search and rescue operations in the Malaysian Maritime Zone and on the high seas. The Marine Police serves under the control of the Malaysian Internal Security Department and Public Order with the role of safeguarding the security of Malaysian waters from any threats.

Functions

Following the Inspector General of Police Order B112, the functions of Marine Operations Force are;

To guard Malaysian waters.
To maintain peace and uphold maritime laws
To protect life and property at sea.
To conduct ambush and carry out operations along Malaysian waters.
To patrol, investigate and guard the coastal areas and islands of Malaysian waters.
To provide facilities for communication in areas accessible only by sea or river.
To defend the country against subversive elements and external threats.

History

The Marine Police used to be known as the Malay Water Police and its responsibility was to maintain security in Penang

Penang

Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...

and the Straits of Johor

Straits of Johor

The Straits of Johor is a strait that separates the Malaysian state of Johor to the north from Singapore to the south....

. Owing to the increase in marine activities, the marine police was formed on September 1, 1947 in Batu Uban

Batu Uban

Batu Uban is a small town located a few kilometers away from the town of Gelugor in Penang, Malaysia. There are numerous condominiums situated in Batu Uban; these include Sunny Ville, E-Park and N-Park...

, Penang

Penang

before being transferred to Gelugor, Penang

Penang

with 19 boats contributed by the Customs Development and the Royal Malaysian Navy Reserve with 90 personnels.

During the Malayan Emergency

Malayan Emergency

The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....

, three members of the marine police perished in the battle of Bukit Kepong

Bukit Kepong

Bukit Kepong is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. It is located near the Muar River. The town is infamous for the tragic Bukit Kepong Incident. Bukit Kepong is situated near the towns of Lenga, Chaah and Labis....

while fighting against the Communists.

During the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, the marine police also played a role in the crisis. The marine police co-operated with the navy in patrolling the coastal and riverine areas of the Malaysian Peninsula. Indonesian Irregular forces tried to infiltrate into Malaysia over water, especially using fishing boats and trawlers but many were successfully captured by the navy and the marine police. Some of the Indonesian Irregulars were shot dead when trying to escape from the Malaysian security forces, as well as having their weapons and equipments captured.

With the rapid development of Malaysia, the Marine Police expanded in terms of logistics and men. The expansion was notable during the 1960s, with a marked increase of 40 wooden PX class patrol boats and the addition of personnel. Subsequently, the duties of the Marine Police also expanded.

In 6 February 2009, the name of Malaysian Marine Police was changed to Pasukan Gerakan Marin (English: Marine Operations Force) with the aim of making the force more sensitive, progressive and innovative in their service to the community. The renaming was launched by the Minister of Home Affairs, Dato' Seri Syed Hamid Albar

Syed Hamid Albar

Tan Sri Syed Hamid bin Syed Jaafar Albar , is a Malaysian politician and the former Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs. He is currently the chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission. He is also a member of the United Malays National Organisation , part of the ruling Barisan Nasional...

at PULAMAR (Abbreviation of Pusat Latihan Marin or Marine Police Training Centre), Tampoi, Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...

and witnessed by Tan Sri Musa Hassan

Musa Hassan

Tan Sri Musa Hassan is former Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police. He has served with the Royal Malaysian Police for 41 years.- Inspector-General of Police :...

, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of Internal Security and Public Order, Dato' Hussin Ismail and all senior police officers and Malaysian media. In addition to functioning as regular police stations and huts, the Marine Police also took over police shacks located on islands, lakes, coastal and river areas. On November 24, 2008, a total of 41 marine police bases in the country were upgraded to Beach Police Stations and Beach Police Shacks.

Incidents and accidents

On February 23, 1950, the Malayan communist guerillas launched an assault on the wooded police station at Bukit Kepong, Muar, Johore. As the result, 14 officers including three Marine Policemen were killed in that assault, known as MPC 60 Ibrahim Bin Adam, MPC 68 Awang Bin Ali and MPC 181 Basiron Bin Adam, while one Marine Policemen named MPC 37 Abu Bakar Bin Daud was wounded in action. The Communists also blew up the marine patrol boat at Bukit Kepong jetty near the Muar river to prevent reinforcement of the police station.

At June 28, 2006, one officer of the marine police, MPC 144598 Mohd Juriya Bin Awang went missing when a patrol boat from Pasir Panjang Marine Police Station capsized and sank in heavy shore about two nautical miles (4 km) off Pasir Panjang on routine duties, Sekinchan
Sekinchan
Sekinchan is a small town located in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Sekinchan is one of the major rice producing areas of Malaysia.-References:...

while Cpl Ahmad Zubairi Shahudin and MPC Mohd Khairi Seman, two of the crews in the boat, managed to swim ashore. An intensive search and rescue effort was launched by the police, Fire and Rescue Services Department
Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department
The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department , popularly known as Bomba, is the fire and rescue services agency in Malaysia. The Malay term 'Bomba' is borrowed from the Portuguese word bombeiros which carries the same meaning.- History :...

, Malaysian Marine Department and local villagers to locate the missing officer. Three weeks later after the incident, the body of the officer was later found at 7.5 nautical miles (13.9 km) off Pulau Payar
Pulau Payar
Pulau Payar is one of the many islands off mainland Kedah in the Strait of Malacca. It is situated south of Langkawi, a more famous archipelago. Pulau Payar's status as a marine park offers protection for its diverse marine life...

, near the Kuala Kedah
Kuala Kedah
Kuala Kedah is a town and parliamentary constituency in Kedah, Malaysia. It is a fishing port, located at the mouth of the Kedah River, and serves as a terminus for ferries to the tourist island of Langkawi...

river.

Organization

The Marine Operations Force is currently headed by Senior Assistant Commissioner

Senior Assistant Commissioner

Senior assistant commissioner is a rank used in the Singapore Police Force and in the New South Wales Police Force of Australia.-Australia:The rank of senior assistant commissioner is only used in the New South Wales Police Force, where it is senior to the rank of assistant commissioner and junior...

II Dato' Isa bin Munir. It operates from five regional bases around the peninsula and East Malaysia. It also has a police base at Putrajaya

Putrajaya

Putrajaya is a planned city, located 25km south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya, due to the overcrowding and congestion in the Kuala Lumpur areas...

for the security of the lake. Each of these regional bases are organised similarly to the Neighbourhood Police Centres of the land divisions, and conduct patrols within its respective maritime sectors.

The Marine Police is organised into five main bases:

Northern Region Marine Police (Region 1)

Based at Batu Uban, Penang

Penang

. Has responsibility for the maritime activities in the states of Perlis

Perlis

Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. It lies at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has Satun and Songkhla Provinces of Thailand on its northern border. It is bordered by the state of Kedah to the south...

, Penang

Penang

, Kedah

Kedah

Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...

, Perak

Perak

Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...

and Selangor

Selangor

Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...

South Region Marine Police Force (Region 2)

Based at Tampoi, Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...

, Johore. Has responsibility for the maritime activities in the states of Negeri Sembilan

Negeri Sembilan

Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....

, Malacca

Malacca

Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...

and Johore

East Region Marine Police Force (Region 3)

Based at Kemaman

Kemaman

Kemaman is a district in Terengganu, Malaysia. It is situated on the coast of the South China Sea. Kemaman district is bordered by Dungun to the north and the state of Pahang to the south....

, Terengganu

Terengganu

Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman...

. Has responsibility for the maritime activities in the states of Kelantan

Kelantan

Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....

, Terengganu

Terengganu

Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman...

and Pahang

Pahang

Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...

Sabah Region Marine Police Force (Region 4)

Based at Sandakan

Sandakan

Sandakan is the second-largest city in Sabah, East Malaysia, on the north-eastern coast of Borneo. It is located on the east coast of the island and it is the administrative centre of Sandakan Division and was the former capital of British North Borneo...

, Sabah

Sabah

Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...

. Has responsibility for the maritime activities in the state of Sabah

Sabah

and Labuan

Labuan

Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...

Sarawak Region Marine Police Force (Region 5)

Based at Kuching

Kuching

Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....

, Sarawak

Sarawak

Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...

. Has responsibility for the maritime activities in the states of Sarawak

Sarawak

Roles

This team is responsible in patrolling Malaysian Territorial Waters (MTW), Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Contiguous Zone. Headed by Marine Police Commander centered at Major Police Headquarters at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur and fully responsible to Inspector-General of Police through to Director of Internal Security Department and Public Order in every aspects of administration and operations.

The major duties are:-

Search and rescue in the territorial waters of Malaysia and EEZ. Especially aiding in transporting flood victims or natural disasters, especially shipwreck etc.
Assisting other units in the police organisation perform duties other than marine police tasks with the approval from the Director of Internal Security Department and Public Order with the Marine Police Commander advice.
Perform diving duties whenever required by the police force.
Harbour from the threats from the sea.
Conduct joint training with a neighbouring country in Coast Rendezvous, patrol coordination, search and rescue operations.

Operations

The PGM conducts round-the-clock patrols in MTW from its five regional bases, in an area of more than 142, 393 km² and 450, 233 km² for EEZ as well as 4490 km for coastline. It is also responsible for maintaining law and order on most of Malaysia's islands.

While piracy was the main source of concern leading to the establishment of the Marine Police, it has become almost a non-issue today with no cases of piracy in Malaysian Territorial Waters in the last decade. Crimes in the offshore islands or in the waters are also markedly low.

Ops MV Paulijing

August 22, 2005: A hijacked ship belonging to a Hong Kong citizen has entered the Straits of Malacca, after investigation, the ship was actually reported missing in 2003 in the waters Batam, Indonesia. At first, the ship will be detected by the Marine Operations Force. Marine Operations Force received information at about 9.00 am yesterday that the ship MV Natris trusted and has changed its name to MV Paulijing enter the Straits of Malacca and was on his way from Khandra, India to Port of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Responding on information, the Marine Operations Force have sent four marine police patrol vessels which were approaching the ship at about 10 am yesterday, ordered the captain of the ship was to stop. However, the captain of the MV Paulijing refused to heed to the order and continued to head south.

At the same time, five officers and 32 members of 69 Commando counter-terrorist operators was flown to Kukup, Pontian, Johore at about 5 pm yesterday. From Sultan Ismail Airport, Senai, the unit brought by helicopter and they were briefed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohd Yazib Bin Abd Aziz. At 11 pm, Marine Operations Force and 69 Commando to Pulau Pisang and ready to respond at the appropriate time until at about 3:20 am of 69 Commandos and the Marine SWAT unit managed to board and capture the ship.

After inspection of the ship is carrying soybeans and a substance believed to vinegar. The ship was also carrying 19 crew and a captain of the Chinese citizens who are between the ages of 20 to 45 years. The ship was then taken to the waters off Tanjung Piai for further examination and report. This operation has been reported in the 999 program on TV3 in 2005 ago.

Maritime border control

Over the period 2005 to November 2008, PGM was successful in 12,054 cases of busts and summons above various type of offence in beach coastal and national waters.

Statistic of Arrested and Summons from 2005 to November 2008

Fiscal Year	2005	2006	2007	2008
Fisheries Act	230	325	236	385
Custom Act	226	289	236	387
Immigration Act	276	430	544	624
Dangerous Drug Act	139	124	87	101
Merchant Shipping Ordinance	905	878	1, 048	1, 197
Police Act	60	57	71	76
Paddy and Rice Act	351	703	177	188
Controlled Substance Act	84	72	96	269
Offence others	352	365	343	520
Total	2, 623	2, 843	2, 841	3, 747
Entirety Total	12, 054

Firearms and equipment

All officers and men of the PGM are equipped with the Smith & Wesson Model 15 .38 Special

.38 Special

The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...

service revolver, similar to their counterparts in land divisions, as their primary side weapon. The Beretta 92

Beretta 92

The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...

, Browning Hi-Power Mk.3

Browning Hi-Power

The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. It is based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized...

, Glock 19, Heckler & Koch USP

Heckler & Koch USP

The USP is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns.-History:...

and Walther P99

Walther P99

The Walther P99 is a semi-automatic pistol developed by the German company Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen of Ulm for law enforcement, security forces and the civilian shooting market as a replacement for the Walther P5 and the P88...

service pistol is also issued to PGM officers and UNGERIN

UNGERIN

The Marine Combat Unit is a maritime Special Operations squad under the command of the Royal Malaysian Police. Fully operational on 2007, the UNGERIN conducts anti-piracy and counter-terrorism operations in the coastal waters surrounding Malaysia and assists the marine police to respond...

squad. Other firearms such as the Heckler & Koch MP5

Heckler & Koch MP5

The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....

, the M16 rifle

M16 rifle

The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...

are also stowed aboard each patrol craft, with the M4 carbine

M4 carbine

The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...

and Remington 870

Remington 870

The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, Inc. It is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. It is also commonly used by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.-Development:The Remington 870 was...

pump action shotgun

Pump action shotgun

Pump-action shotguns, also called 'slide action repeating shotguns' or 'slide action shotguns' are a class of shotguns that are distinguished in the way in which spent shells are extracted and fresh ones are chambered. The weapon has a single barrel above a tube magazine into which shells are...

as an additional weapon for the UNGERIN. Mounted on the boats themselves, are weapons such as the 7.62mm FN MAG

FN MAG

The FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...

General Purpose Machine Gun

General purpose machine gun

A general-purpose machine gun is a multi-purpose weapon: it is a machine gun firing a full-power rifle cartridge and which can be used in a variety of roles, from a bipod- or tripod-mounted infantry support weapon to a helicopter door gun or a vehicle-mounted support weapon...

, and the 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun, depending on the type of craft.

Current fleet

Currently, the PGM utilised the 15 PZ class patrol boats, 33 PX class, 68 PA/PT/PC/PLC and 4 PSC/PGR/PAR class patrol boats. From two current base during established, currently the branch have 5 the main base, 11 small base and 24 forward base.

Offshore Patrol Craft (PX Class)

Ships	PX 6 PX 8 PX 9 PX 11 PX 12 PX 17 PX 19 PX 20 PX 21 PX 24 PX 28 PX 29 PX 30 PX 31 PX 32 PX 33
Origin
Length	29 metres
Beam	6 metres
Draft	1.7 metre
Speed	17 knots (33.3 km/h)
Weapons	2x M2 Browning machine gun
Small Arms	M16 rifle M16 rifle The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO... s, HK MP5, shotguns and Pistols/Revolvers

Note: Ordered in 1979 from Penang Shipbuilding Company. First delivery in June 1981, last pair completed in June 1982. Brooke Marine provided lead yard services.

Inshore Patrol Craft (PA Class)

Ships	Camar Laut 6 (PA 20) Camar Laut 22 (PA 22) Camar Laut 24 (PA 24) Camar Laut 25 (PA 25) Camar Laut 31 (PA 31) Camar Laut 41 (PA 41) Camar Laut 43 (PA 43) Camar Laut 47 (PA 47) Camar Laut 49 (PA 49)
Origin	/
Length	14.8 metres
Beam	2.7 metres
Draft	0.8 metre
Speed	30 knots (58.8 km/h)
Weapons	2x 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun 20mm Oerlikon cannon Oerlikon 20 mm cannon The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
Small Arms	M16 rifle and pistols

New Police Strike Craft Vessels (PSC Class)

On July 11, 2007, the PGM purchased 10 units of Marine Alutech Watercat M14

Jurmo class landing craft

The Jurmo class landing craft is a type of military transport in use by the Finnish Navy. The manufacturer Marine Alutech designates it as Watercat M12.-History:...

PSC class landing craft vessels from Marine Alutech OY AB Service with 22 passengers capacity and able 30+ knots high speeds, possibly equipped with 12.7mm NSV machine gun, 40mm grenade machine gun and 120m Patria NEMO

Patria NEMO

NEMO , is a single 120 mm unmanned mortar turret currently being developed by Patria Weapons System Oy in Finland. It is a lighter version of the AMOS mortar system, which is also being field tested...

mortar to used by marine police as well as UNGERIN operatives for amphibious assault duties even in shallow waters. The boats are built by Geliga Slipway Sdn Bhd in Malaysia. The boats are to be supplied in 2008-2009.

Ships	Tebuan Laut 35 (PSC 35) Tebuan Laut 17 (PSC 17) - - (6 more on delivery)
Origin	Finland
Length	15.4 metres
Beam	4 metres
Draft	0.8 metre
Speed	45 knots (88.2 km/h)
Weapons	2x General Purpose Machine Guns

Special force

A special operations squad of marine police was established to counter various terrorism threats. Known as UNGERIN
UNGERIN
The Marine Combat Unit is a maritime Special Operations squad under the command of the Royal Malaysian Police. Fully operational on 2007, the UNGERIN conducts anti-piracy and counter-terrorism operations in the coastal waters surrounding Malaysia and assists the marine police to respond...

, they received special training by the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

where they were trained in the specific doctrines to increase the security of Malaysian waters. The UNGERIN were provided with US special firearms, similar to those used by US counter-terrorist units.

Functions

History

Incidents and accidents

Organization

Roles

Operations

Ops MV Paulijing

Maritime border control

Firearms and equipment

Current fleet

Offshore Patrol Craft (PX Class)

Inshore Patrol Craft (PA Class)

New Police Strike Craft Vessels (PSC Class)

Special force

See also