Sarawak government to build four more headquarters for coast guards, says premier
MIRI, July 18 — The state government will build another four more headquarters for the Sarawak Coast Guards (SCG) in Sejingkat, Tanjung Manis, Bintulu and Lawas to ensure that personnel and assets are in strategic areas, Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today.
He said the construction of the headquarters will be managed by the state Public Works Department (JKR) under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) for the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS).
“In the meantime, efforts are being made to acquire three larger fast patrol vessels to enable the SCG to patrol further into the open seas and over a longer period to protect our interests including the eight marine national parks,” he said.
He was speaking at the launch of the three Class Island Fast Patrol Vessels, each measuring 25m, as well as the opening of SCG headquarters here.
Abang Johari said the parks, covering a total area of 1.2 million hectares, are the Luconia Shoals National Park, Tanjung Datu National Park, Talang Satang National Park, Santubong National Park, Bruit National Park, Similajau National Park, Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park and Limbang Mangrove National Park.
He said the deployment of the fast patrol vessels is to complement the inadequacies of assets of other security agencies.
The premier said UKPS has already stationed Fish Class Interceptor Vessels at Tanjung Manis, Miri and Lawas in April this year.
Abang Johari said the acquisition of the three more Island Class Fast Patrol Vessels is a significant initiative of the Sarawak government in line with the objectives of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) in improving coastal security control and preserving the environment.
He explained that the SCG is to collaborate with other state and federal agencies to improve the service delivery.
The premier said the state government has allocated RM90 million for the three island class vessels which was presented in the 2020 budget on November 4, 2019.
With the latest addition, SCG now has six of such vessels that were using water jet technology.
He said the three vessels were completed and delivered by the contractors yesterday according to the stipulated time and specification.
He said all the assets, apart from being mobilised for the enforcement of state ordinances, will also help in the search and rescue operations, security control in official water events and assist in the assignment of other security agencies wherever needed.
