Life Jackets From BHIC To Help Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency Save Lives

: Posted On Tuesday, 26 March 2013 16:21

LIMA 2013 Daily News - BHIC at LIMA 2013

Life Jackets From BHIC To Help Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency Save Lives

In a bid to cultivate stronger safety awareness at sea, Bousted Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad (BHIC) at LIMA 2013 today announced the company would contribute lifejackets towards a maritime community service campaign by the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

A total of of 250 life jackets will be provided by BHIC as part of its corporate social responsibility agenda to support MMEA’s safety awareness campaign which kicks off in April this year and is targeted at fishermen, ferry and boat users as well as others in the maritime community.

At the handover ceremony, Managing Director of BHIC YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ahmad Ramli Hj Mohd Nor presented a lifejacket to the Director General of MMEA YBhg Admiral Maritime Datuk Mohd Amdan bin Kurish, as a symbolic gesture.

YBhg. Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli said “BHIC is committed to doing our part to support MMEA initiatives involving the maritime community. Simple measures like using a lifejacket or equipping a boat with a lifebuoy can be difference between a life saved or not. We cannot emphasise enough the importance of taking safety precautions and changing attitudes which is what the MMEA campaign can contribute towards”.

On hand to witness the ceremony were TAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and YBhg. Datuk Hj Ahmad bin Hj. MASLAN, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia in the Prime Minister’s Department. They were joined by YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, Deputy Chairman of Boustead Holdings Berhad. Also present were the BHIC management team and senior MMEA officials.

YBhg Datuk Mohd Amdan said “As a maritime agency coordinating search and rescue (SAR) operations in national maritime waters since 6 June 2006, MMEA takes safety measures of those at sea very seriously. Based on emergency statistics at sea for 2006 to February 2013, there were 392 cases involving drowning victims on the beach and at sea, which was the highest number of emergencies. On the other hand, there were 368 cases that involved ships and boats,”

Statistic trends also showed most such cases happen during bad and unpredictable weather with strong winds and stormy seas. In addition, the lack of user awareness on precautionary measures while at sea also contributed to these incidents.”

MMEA’s latest safety campaign will complement its ongoing Program Jiwa Murni, an initiative that aims to enhance the livelihood and living standards of the fishermen community in the country.
Around 83 activities have been carried out through MMEA’s Program Jiwa Murni since its introduction in 2007 with about 29,000 fishermen in Peninsular and East Malaysia having benefitted.