PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has vowed firm action against migrant smuggling syndicates and their accomplices following the death of a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) officer during an operation to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country.
Anwar said he was deeply saddened by the death of Laskar Kanan Maritim (Teknikal) Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan, 41, who was killed while carrying out his duties.
In a Facebook post, Anwar and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, extended their condolences to the officer’s family and expressed solidarity with APMM personnel who had lost a colleague in the line of duty.
“I am deeply affected by his passing and disappointed by those who threaten the country’s security and sovereignty,” he said.
Anwar said the officer’s sacrifice must not be in vain, stressing that all enforcement agencies must act firmly and without compromise against attempts to breach the country’s borders.
He also vowed stern action against those behind migrant smuggling syndicates, as well as any parties that protected or colluded with them.
“Those who allow our sovereignty to be violated must also be brought to justice. The lives of our security personnel and the sovereignty of the country must not be put at risk,” he said.
Mohd Roshaimi, who served with the Intelligence Unit at the Kedah and Perlis Maritime Malaysia state headquarters, was killed after an APMM patrol boat collided with a coastal wall while pursuing a boat believed to be carrying illegal immigrants in waters off Kuala Perlis early yesterday.
The incident occurred at about 12.30am off Sungai Padang, when the patrol boat was pursuing a foreign fishing boat believed to be carrying nine Myanmar nationals.
Three other APMM personnel were injured in the collision.
Kangar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Yusharifuddin Mohd Yusop confirmed that police had received a report on the incident, but said the investigation would be handled by APMM.
Mohd Roshaimi was thrown into the sea following the collision and was found by rescuers about an hour later, after a headcount revealed that one crew member was missing.
Anwar prayed for Mohd Roshaimi’s soul to be granted mercy and placed among the righteous.