KUALA LUMPUR -– A total of 18 Malaysian offshore seafarers who are also members of the Malaysian Offshore Seafarers Association (MOS) are reported to be working in several operational areas in West Asia which are currently categorised as conflict zones.
MOS president Captain Tunku Ismail Tunku Yahaya said the information was obtained through the association’s network of members who are currently serving on oil and gas industry support vessels in the region.
He said so far most of them are still operating as usual with strict safety monitoring by shipping companies and ship management.
“The offshore industry has certain safety procedures for operations in high-risk areas and this is always monitored by the operators and ship companies,” he told Bernama.
Tunku Ismail said MOS, which has more than 1,200 members, was also informed that the seafarers involved were stationed in several operational locations including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates sector covering Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
However, he said the safety and welfare of Malaysian seafarers must always be a priority, especially for those working in high-risk areas.
“MOS hopes that shipping companies and operators ensure that seafarers deployed in high-risk areas are given appropriate protection, including safety aspects, insurance coverage and compensation related to operations in conflict areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said MOS would continue to monitor current developments and keep in touch with its members in the operational area to ensure they were safe.
A total of 18 members of the association were in an area categorised as a conflict zone in West Asia, involving:
Saudi Arabia (nine people):
Haizir Abu Hasan
Mohd Subky Mohd Isa
Captain Suryaintheran Selvaraja
Mohd Hasmurieman Hashim
Azzahraul Nazrin Zainal Azri
Muhammad Qutaibah Mustaffa Kamal
Mohd Khairul Nizam Abd Razak
Mohd Firdaus Mohd Ali
Mohd Fahmi A Rahman
Qatar (four people):
Mohamad Hafizzudin Mohamad Suraji
Lau Han Seong
Mohamad Sudaimi Abd Ghani
Mohd Amirulhafiz Mohd Johar
United Arab Emirates – Dubai/Abu Dhabi sector (five people):
Mu’ammar Asyraf Buzali
Ahmad Sayuti Husin
Nik Mohamad Shafik Nik Zulkifli
Lokmanulhakim Badizoman
Mohd Nazri Sharif
Tensions in West Asia have continued to escalate since Feb 28 when Israel and the United States (US) launched attacks on Iran, which triggered Tehran’s counter-attacks on US interests in the Gulf country.
— BERNAMA
