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Commanders get new postings

By PETER NUNIS 
LUMUT 
nst_ipoh@yahoo.com

KD Mahawangsa receives quality certification

Fleet Operations commander Vice-Admiral Datuk Wira Jamil Osman oversaw the ceremony held on board KD Mahawangsa.

Also present at the event were Fleet Systems commander Rear Admiral Datuk Khairuddin Khalid and Fleet Senior Officer Afloat Captain  Jamel Abd Rahman.

Among those involved in the change of command was Commander Redzuan Talib, who took over the commanding officer's post of KD Panglima Hitam, Paskal, the elite unit of RMN, from Captain  Jamalludin Saman.

Commander Sazalee Shoib took over as the commanding officer of 501 Squadron from Commander Ajazi Jamaludin.

The latter in turn was given charge as commanding officer of 502 Squadron, replacing Commander Mohd Mokhtaruddeen Mohd Mokhtar.

The 501 and 502 Squadrons operate the Fennec and Super Lynx helicopters, respectively, of the Navy's air wing, KD Rajawali.

 Commander Ahmad Sharifudin Abu Bakar took over as commanding officer of the frigate KD Lekir from Lieutenant Commander Mohamad Shaifudin Hassan, while Commander Shahril Amir Mohd Mokhtar was named commanding officer of training vessel KD Hang Tuah in place of Lieutenant Commander Shahris Faisal Abdullah.

 During the certification award ceremony, KD Mahawangsa became the first ship in RMN to receive the 5S Certificate from the Malaysia Productivity Corporation's (MPC) director-general Mohd Razali Hussain.

 MPC, a statutory body under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), awarded the certificate following an audit of KD Mahawangsa, based on the 5S principles: Sort, Set, Shine, Standardise and Sustain.

 The 29-year-old KD Mahawangsa, built by South Korea, is a Multi Purpose Command Support Ship (MPCSS) ship of the RMN.

 The 103m long, 18.5m  wide vessel weighs 4,700 tonnes and has a crew of 187 officers and men.

 KD Mahawangsa, which began service in 1983 and commanded by Captain (RMN) Jamel Abd Rahman, who is also the Senior Officer Afloat, has a cruising speed of 14-15 knots.

 The ship has served during many conflicts and disasters, delivering troops, equipment and supplies within the country and in international regions. It can carry 20 armoured tanks or 30 army 3-tonne trucks.

 Presently, the vessel is being used as a training ship and has the distinction of being the first RMN warship to enter the Malaysia Book of Records, earning the Integrated Management System  and the Occupational, Health Safety Management System  awards on May 18, last year.

 Jamil, while congratulating the officers and men on their high standards and responsible nature, said it is a momentous occasion for RMN to celebrate two events simultaneously as it is economical.

 The save-time-and-cost system audit by MPC is comparable to a journey towards excellence, which together with the already in place balance scorecard and strategic management, will augur well and provide a benchmark for RMN's fleet and units progression, Jamil said.

 "Nothing is impossible. The 5S awarded to KD Mahawangsa can be a catalyst for inspiration and creativity for the 'Navy People' to enhance its image of a world standard navy," Jamil added.

Read more: Commanders get new postings - Northern - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/northern/commanders-get-new-postings-1.41066#ixzz1lfy58SGe

TLDM terus mantap

Oleh Ani Awang

oleh Roy Azis Abd Aziz

Abdul Aziz Jaafar (kanan) menyampaikan anugerah Laskar Terbaik TLDM 2010 kepada Laskar Kanan PAP (PASKAL) Luye a/k Aru pada istiadat perbarisan hari Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia di Lumut baru-baru ini.

SETIAP pasukan dalam Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) biasanya akan mengadakan sambutan hari ulang tahun masing-masing sebagai memperingati kejayaan dan kematangan setiap pasukan itu.

Sambutan hari ulang tahun penubuhan itu juga diharap akan membangkitkan semangat kecintaan anggota kepada pasukan dan memastikan kerjasama pegawai dan anggota di semua peringkat diperkukuhkan setiap masa.

Justeru, Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) tidak terkecuali dengan mengadakan pelbagai program sambutan Ulang Tahun TLDM ke-77 di Padang Kawad KD Pelandok di Pangkalan TLDM di sini baru-baru ini.

Istiadat perbarisan ulang tahun itu disertai 85 pegawai dan 515 anggota terlibat dalam istiadat perbarisan yang diketuai Ketua Perbarisan Komander Ahmad Rashidi Othman.

Mereka yang berpakaian seragam putih berdiri gagah untuk memberi tabik hormat kepada Panglima TLDM, Laksamana Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar dan Panglima Armada TLDM, Laksamana Madya Datuk Wira Jamil Osman yang mengadakan pemeriksaan kawalan kehormatan pada istiadat tersebut.

Majlis dimulakan dengan perarakan empat panji-panji diraja bagi kapal KD Pelandok, KD Malaya, KD Rajawali dan KD Panglima Hitam.

Abdul Aziz dalam ucapannya berkata, TLDM sedang berusaha menaikkan gaji serta elaun anggotanya sejajar dengan peningkatan taraf perjawatan di kalangan anggotanya.

Beliau berkata, usaha itu perlu bagi meningkatkan semangat dan motivasi anggota TLDM.

Katanya, antara elaun yang sedang dalam pertimbangan kerajaan adalah bayaran insentif perkhidmatan kapal selam, tugas stesen luar pantai, bahasa asing, pasukan khas, juruterbang dan elaun bagi juru teknik pesawat.

"Cadangan gaji dan elaun ini sedang dipertimbangkan oleh kerajaan," katanya di KD Pelandok, Pangkalan TLDM di sini baru-baru ini.

Selain itu, Abdul Aziz berkata, TLDM sedang mengambil langkah proaktif melaksanakan transformasi ke arah memartabatkan TLDM bagi mencapai misi dan visinya.

Menurutnya, untuk mencapai tujuan itu, TLDM telah menggunakan pelan strategi seperti kesiagaan, menambah baik kesediaan sumber, pengurusan sumber manusia, pengurusan lojistik dan membangunkan modal insan.

Beliau berkata, kesemua pelan tersebut perlu dilaksanakan di setiap markas, unit dan setiap anggota.

Selain itu, kata Abdul Aziz, aset TLDM sentiasa diselenggara dengan baik dan boleh digunakan pada bila-bila masa yang diperlukan demi untuk menjaga kepentingan negara.

Katanya, pihaknya juga bekerjasama dengan agensi luar menerusi kerjasama strategik di antara TLDM dengan MISC Berhad.

"Kerjasama itu terbukti berkesan apabila berjaya mengiringi 238 buah kapal dengan melindungi nilai dagangan negara berjumlah hampir RM63.3 bilion," ujar beliau.

Sementara itu, seramai lima orang menerima Anugerah Pujian Panglima Tentera Laut dan dua orang bagi Anugerah Bintara dan Laskar Terbaik TLDM.

Pegawai Waran 1, Nik Ezanee Nek Anom, 44, berkata, Anugerah Pujian Panglima Tentera Laut yang diterima itu merupakan satu penghargaan kepadanya yang sudah berkhidmat dengan TLDM selama 23 tahun.

"Anugerah ini memberi satu dorongan dan semangat untuk bekerja lebih kuat.

"Azam saya akan datang adalah untuk membimbing anggota bawahan supaya mereka menjadi anggota yang terlatih," katanya yang berasal dari Tumpat, Kelantan.

Nik Ezanee menyertai TLDM pada 19 Jun 1988 dan pernah bertugas di KD Mahameru, KD Jerong, KD Indra Sakti, Kapal RMN SSC dan pasukan projek PV TLDM serta mewakili TLDM ke Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) bertugas di Daffur, Sudan.

Menurutnya, pengalaman paling mencabar semasa bertugas di Daffur kerana mereka terdedah dengan ancaman bertugas di padang pasir.

"Namun kelengkapan persenjataan kita lebih maju berbanding dengan mereka," katanya.

Bagi Laskar Kanan (Paskal) Luye ak Aru, 36, yang mempunyai kepakaran sebagai penyelam kapal, payung terjun, ikhtiar hidup pertempuran, tempur jarak dekat dan perisikan - kelebihan itu banyak membantu kejayaannya dalam TLDM.

"Saya terbabit dengan Ops Fajar 1 untuk membebaskan kapal Bunga Melati 2 dan 5 daripada tawanan lanun Somalia.

"Pengalaman yang ada pada saya banyak membantu saya menggunakan kepakaran bagi setiap operasi yang disertai," katanya yang berasal dari Sarawak.

Dia menyertai TLDM pada 18 April 1996 dan kini bertugas di KD Panglima Hitam.

Pegawai Waran 11 (Paskal), Teruna Hassan, 41, berkata, anugerah yang diberikan itu merupakan satu penghargaan yang tinggi pada dirinya.

"Semasa bertugas sebagai Ketua Tim Gempur Dua, semasa Ops Fajar 8, pasukan saya berjaya menyelamatkan kesemua anak-anak kapal serta melindungi harta negara.

"Saya percaya pasukan Paskal boleh dimantapkan dengan meningkatkan peralatan sedia ada bagi membolehkan ia menjadi pasukan yang disegani dalam TLDM," katanya yang kini bertugas di KD Panglima Hitam.

Berasal dari Papar, Sabah, beliau menyertai TLDM pada 8 Januari 1990.

Laskar Kanan (Paskal) Abdul Aziz Ismail, 33, berkata, anugerah itu merupakan satu penghargaan kepadanya untuk terus menabur khidmat bakti dalam TLDM.

"Saya berazam untuk bekerja dengan lebih gigih demi negara dan memperoleh banyak pengalaman semasa berkhidmat di TLDM termasuk terlibat dalam Ops Fajar 1, 4 dan 8,'' katanya yang mula berkhidmat dengan TLDM pada 18 April 1996.

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Paskal terbaik, berkualiti

LK1 AHMAD ABDULLAH

Pulau Indah, Klang

SAYA adalah seorang anggota Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia (APMM) ingin mengucapkan jutaan terima kasih dan meluahkan rasa amat puas hati kepada Pasukan Khas Laut (Paskal).

Baru-baru ini, saya mengikuti kursus Paskal di Lumut.

Ketika menghadiri Kursus Asas Komando Paskal, semua pegawai dan jurulatihnya mudah didekati malah tidak sombong, mesra, prihatin dan berperibadi mulia. Mereka memberikan tunjuk ajar yang baik kepada semua pelatih selain menunjukkan ciri-ciri kepimpinan yang terpuji dan menghormati pelatih.

Teknik latihan yang diberikan dalam setiap situasi amat berkesan dan mudah difahami beserta dengan penjelasan, contoh serta taktik yang diberikan amat mantap.

Malah jurulatih lain juga mempunyai komitmen yang begitu baik, mantap dan jitu. Tahniah diucapkan.

Mereka amat komited dalam menjalankan latihan dan bersungguh-sungguh mengajar kami semua sehingga kami berjaya lulus di dalam kursus tersebut.

Dengan kemahiran yang saya peroleh, saya berharap saya akan berjaya melaksanakan tanggungjawab yang diberikan dengan sebaiknya.

Sesuai dengan motto 'Sentiasa Yang Terbaik' kejayaan mereka menyelamatkan kapal dagang MT Bunga Laurel memang amat membanggakan.

Sikap profesional, kecekapan dan kekuatan mereka tidak dapat dinafikan.

Terima kasih kepada semua pegawai dan anggota Paskal.

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Malaysia-India setuju atasi masalah lanun

HUTAN MELINTANG 12 Mac - Kementerian Pertahanan mengalu-alukan kerjasama antara kerajaan Malaysia dan India berhubung usaha untuk mengatasi masalah kegiatan lanun terutama di perairan Lautan Hindi dan Teluk Aden.

Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, perkara ini telah dibincangkan dalam siri lawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dengan Perdana Menteri India, Manmohan Singh di India, baru-baru ini.

Menurutnya, kedua-dua pihak turut bersetuju untuk menjalinkan kerjasama di antara Tentera Laut Malaysia dan India untuk melindungi kapal dari kedua-dua negara daripada ancaman lanun.

"Kita mengalu-alukan komitmen India untuk membentuk kerjasama dengan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) kerana lanun dari Somalia berada lebih 1,000 kilometer di Perairan Teluk Aden ke Lautan Hindi yang meliputi persempadanan negara itu.

"Kejayaan ini dapat kita lihat apabila Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL) yang telah menyelamatkan 29 kapal dagang dari Malaysia khususnya daripada MISC dan mana-mana kapal dagang yang memohon untuk dilindungi dalam konvoi Ops Fajar yang ke-9 yang menggunakan Kapal Bunga Emas 5 daripada diserang lanun terutamanya di Teluk Aden" katanya selepas merasmikan Program Mesra Rakyat di Taman Kayangan, di sini hari ini.

Ahmad Zahid berkata, kejayaan Malaysia dalam menangani kegiatan lanun di Perairan Teluk Aden dan kawasan sekitar mendapat perhatian dunia.

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Malaysia needs to overcome major legal hurdles to fight high-seas piracy

COMMENT

By MELDA MARISSA MALEK

THE recent pirate attack on a Panamian-flagged, Japanese-owned, Filipino-crewed, Malaysian-chartered, Singapore-bound tanker, the MT Bunga Laurel in the high seas off the Gulf of Aden highlighted the escalating seriousness of the piracy threat in that region.

Only the quick and decisive action of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s elite team of commandos or Paskal, prevented the horrific possibility of a hijacking and kidnapping for ransom of the vessel and the 23 crew on board. Seven pirates were apprehended.

The prosecution of the captured Somali suspects would be Malaysia’s first trial involving high-seas piracy and as such careful planning and implementation of the trial is essential to ensure successful prosecution of perpetrators.

(According to latest news report on Feb 1, the Somali pirates were remanded at the Bukit Jalil detention centre until Feb 6).

The event also highlighted the complexity of the piracy situation worldwide, especially on the question of what to do with the apprehended pirates. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as making them walk the plank.

Factors to be considered

Various factors have to be taken into consideration such as costs, logistics, ability to prosecute, due process, and human rights aspects.

Customary law codified in The Law of the Sea Convention 1982 (Unclos) establishes high-seas piracy as a universal crime. Pirates are described as enemy of mankind and as such, all sovereign nations have the jurisdiction to apprehend, prosecute, and punish acts of piracy regardless of where it happens, the pirate’s nationality, the registry of the ship or the destination of the cargo.

Unclos defines piracy as any illegal acts of violence, detention, or depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship and directed against another ship or against persons or property on board such ship on the high seas or in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state.

It has to be noted however, that universal jurisdiction only applies to piracy beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, i.e., the high seas. Pirate-like acts that take place within the jurisdictional waters of a state, such as those that occur in the Straits of Malacca, remain the responsibility and under the jurisdiction of that littoral state and perpetrators are often charged for armed robbery.

Despite the carte blanche nature of universal jurisdiction, prosecution must still come under the framework of local legislation and many countries are wary of or unwilling to shoulder the responsibility of prosecuting apprehended pirates due to the logistical and legal burdens.

The escalating cost incurred throughout the duration for which pirates have to be kept in custody pending transportation and trial, the piecing together of evidence and the gathering of witnesses who may be scattered across the globe, the trial, language barriers, legal assistance to the accused, would all prove to be major hurdles.

Underage pirates will add another layer of complexity to the matter in terms of the different laws applicable as well as the need to adhere strictly to human rights standards.

Pirates are still humans and therefore, entitled to due process and fair treatment while in custody. Political concerns can also be a deterrent and the media scrutiny of the matter may not be welcomed. In the United Kingdom for example, the possibility of pirates staying indefinitely as asylum seekers after incarceration or due to failed prosecution has deterred the United Kingdom from transporting captured pirates for prosecution on UK soil.

Further, there is the concern over the likelihood of the suspects receiving harsh treatment in Somalia upon deportation which would violate British Human Rights Act.

Solutions available

To counter the various legal concerns and logistical difficulties of transporting pirates over long distances to be tried in the arresting state, arrangements were made with a number of East African States to prosecute arrested pirates and to help repatriate hostages.

Malaysia however, has not signed any memorandum with Kenya or Seychelles or any other East African country that allows them to receive and prosecute pirates caught by the Malaysian navy. As such, the choices of what to do with captured pirates are restricted to catch and release, handing over to the barely functioning Somalia, or transporting them to be tried in Malaysian courts. Catch and release will undermine international anti-piracy efforts and only encourage future acts of piracy. Handing them over to Somali authorities where they will most likely be treated harshly or released for being national heroes, is also not a viable option.

It is certainly commendable that the Malaysian Government has decided to prosecute the captured suspects on Malaysian soil thereby, shouldering its international obligations towards repressing piracy. The Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (CJA) and the Penal Code firmly establishes universal jurisdiction to prosecute high sea piracy in Malaysia.

However, the domestic legal framework for the crime is lacking. Malaysia does not have legislation or a provision catering specifically to the crime of piracy and has not incorporated any definition of piracy in domestic legislation.

As such, the captured suspects will have to be tried for other crimes that could best fit the bill such as armed robbery, criminal conspiracy or even terrorism if certain elements are met. Our dilemma is that while the suspects are brought here for the crime of piracy under the international principle of universal jurisdiction, yet when tried, are charged under different offences. Would Malaysia still retain the jurisdiction to try the suspects then?

The MT Bunga Laurel is neither a Malaysian registered ship, nor crewed by Malaysians. Malaysia’s links to the vessel are as the arresting state and in relation to the cargo. It would be less complicated if the ship was Malaysian-registered as it would then provide Malaysia the extraterritorial jurisdiction to try the suspects for any offence under the Penal Code or under any other domestic legislation. Piracy however, usually refers to a broad range of violent acts at sea. Illegal violent acts of piracy under Unclos include armed robbery, murder or assault.

Therefore, the suspects could technically be charged with armed robbery or other penal offences.

More comprehensive future

A comprehensive national anti-piracy enactment would ensure a more effective framework to try and punish pirates for various acts of piracy. It would provide for piracy whether within or beyond Malaysian jurisdiction and could cover acts such as hijacking, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery or any act that jeopardises Malaysian interests at sea. It would dispel any uncertainty in conducting the prosecution and ensure that any piratical act committed would be met with just punishment. The right tool is required to do the job properly.

Malaysia and its neighbours have been exemplary in successfully suppressing pirate-like acts in the Straits of Malacca. High-seas piracy however, is a different kettle of fish. The recent attack on MT Bunga Laurel was not the first time that a Malaysian-linked ship has been targeted by pirates.

In August 2008, MISC tankers MT Bunga Melati Dua and MT Bunga Melati Lima were hijacked within days in the Gulf of Aden. It is high time for Malaysia to improve its legal regime concerning piracy by enacting a national anti-piracy law.

It was reported in the media not so long ago that a national anti-piracy legislation is in the pipeline. This is certainly a positive development towards enhancing and strengthening the domestic legal framework to deal with piracy that threatens Malaysia’s maritime interests in whatever form.

Perhaps, the Government could also look into the various regional efforts against piracy and consider entering into other joint cooperation efforts. Until a robust international legal regime dealing with piracy can be established and a strong domestic legal framework developed, the best recourse would lie in taking the necessary deterrent steps to foil any pirate attacks before they occur.

*Melda Marissa Malek is a researcher with the centre for ocean law and policy, Maritime Institute of Malaysia. The author is indebted to Amy Aai and Shantini Guna Rajan for their helpful comments and feedback.

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