Jamalul (fourth right), Zaki (fifth right) and others on the ship.
Jamalul (centre) with visitors and members of the media. — Photos by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: Cases of incursion and crime activities in Sabah and Sarawak waters in the first 11 months of this year have dropped from the figure recorded in the same period last year.
“This is the result of regular patrols by the navy and related agencies and the armed forces. Cases like human trafficking and smuggling have slightly decreased this year,” commanding officer of Royal Malaysian Navy vessel KD Kelantan, Jamalul Shafri Mohd Shukor, told a press conference at Kuching Port Authority in Pending here yesterday.
He said the navy would continue to enhance relationships between the navy and the public.
The ‘Open Ship’ for the public to visit was one of the programmes under its confidence-building measures.
“We want to build public confidence. We want them to feel safe to carry out their daily activities and their life is safeguarded. Through such activity, we hope to promote racial unity too,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the armed forces, especially the navy, was doing continuous promotion to attract different races to join the navy as a career. The target ratio is five Malays: 3 major races like Chinese and Indians:2 other races. Alas, only about 70 per cent of the target could be achieved.
“Maybe some people thought there are better offers out there. We are still working on new recruitment,” he said.
KD Kelantan, a new generation patrol vessel based in Lumut, Perak carries 101 crews including 17 officers arrived in KPA on Tuesday.
It received hundreds of visitors yesterday.
The ship will be sailing to Kota Kinabalu today after the Open Ship yesterday.
Armed Forces commander (Eastern Region) Lt Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar was one of those who visited the ship yesterday.