Credit : Fahmi Fadzil's X
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil has said the death of a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officer during an operation off Kuala Perlis will in no way dampen the spirit of enforcement personnel or shake the MADANI government’s commitment to defending the country’s security and sovereignty.
In a post shared on X on the evening of Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Fahmi said he was saddened by the death of MMEA officer Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan, who was killed while pursuing a boat carrying undocumented migrants in the waters off Kuala Perlis.
“Jasa serta pengorbanan beliau demi keselamatan perairan negara akan sentiasa dihargai dan dikenang,” he wrote, which translates as “His service and sacrifice for the safety of the nation’s waters will always be appreciated and remembered.” Fahmi, who is also the government spokesman, conveyed his condolences to the officer’s family and to the entire MMEA, and prayed for a swift recovery for the other personnel who were injured.
Patrol boat struck a concrete structure
Kedah and Perlis Maritime Director First Admiral (Maritime) Romli Mustafa told a press conference on October 27 that the incident happened at 11.37pm on Monday, October 26, when five MMEA personnel tried to intercept a boat suspected of carrying undocumented Myanmar migrants in the waters of Kuala Sungai Padang, Bernama reported.
He said the suspect boat sped towards the shore when it was detected, and the MMEA team gave chase for about 15 minutes. The suspect boat was believed to have squeezed the MMEA’s unmarked boat until it collided with a concrete structure near the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) jetty at Kuala Sungai Padang. Three personnel were thrown into the sea, and one of them was found floating and unconscious at about 1.30am. He was confirmed dead and was believed to have suffered serious head injuries.
The officer, Maritime Leading Seaman (Technical) Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan, was 41 and served with the Intelligence Unit at the Kedah and Perlis Maritime Headquarters, according to the New Straits Times. The three injured personnel were taken to Hospital Tuanku Fauziah in Kangar for treatment. He was buried in his hometown of Kuala Nerang, Kedah, on the night of October 27, RTM reported.
Eleven held, murder probe opened
Romli said nine people believed to be undocumented Myanmar nationals, seven men and two women, were detained along with two Thai boat operators. Malay Mail reported on October 28 that all 11 are being investigated for murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, in addition to offences under the Immigration Act and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
MMEA Deputy Director-General (Operations) Vice Admiral (Maritime) Mohd Zawawi Abdullah said the agency would carry out an internal investigation, expected to take several weeks, focusing on compliance with standard operating procedures, personnel safety, training and equipment, RTM reported. He also gave an assurance that the agency would look after the welfare of the officer’s family, including education assistance for his two children and support for his widow.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has also paid tribute to the officer, as previously reported by LNA.
Source: Fahmi Fadzil on X, with additional reporting from Bernama, the New Straits Times, Malay Mail and RTM.
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