MMEA marks milestone as first female officer earns pilot wings
PUTRAJAYA: Maritime Sub-Lieutenant Nurul Alifa Alias has made history as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's (MMEA) first female officer from its direct intake to earn pilot wings after completing 20 months of intensive helicopter training.
MMEA deputy director-general (logistics) Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim said the achievement reflected MMEA's capability in producing its own aviation specialists without relying on officers absorbed from other security agencies.
"This achievement marks a significant leap in strengthening the capability and inclusivity of MMEA personnel in aerial operations, including for female officers," he said this in his speech at the MMEA 2026 End of Training and Wing Presentation Ceremony here.
Also present were MMEA deputy director-general (management) Nor Hisham Ibrahim, acting deputy director-general (operations) Rear Admiral Mohd Zawawi Abdullah, MMEA Air Operations Division director First Admiral Ragu Sundararajan, as well as representatives from Layang Layang Flying Academy's top management.
Saiful Lizan said the main objective of the training was to produce maritime aviators who are not only skilled in handling aircraft but also competent in carrying out increasingly complex and challenging enforcement and search and rescue operations at sea.
He added that the MMEA Air Operations Division must play a critical role as the eyes in the sky in strengthening the nation's maritime enforcement capability.
"This capability enables MMEA to expand its surveillance coverage and improve operational success rates, particularly in search and rescue missions, combating cross-border crimes and addressing illegal fishing by foreign vessels," he said.
Saiful Lizan also said Alifa's success would serve as a catalyst for greater participation of female officers in MMEA's air operations field.
Alifa was among eight trainees from Helicopter Pilot Course Series 3/2024 who successfully completed intensive training lasting between 12 and 20 months, covering multiple phases including survival training, underwater escape training (UWET), simulator sessions and actual flight operations, logging up to 155 flight hours.
In addition to Alifa, seven other trainees were also awarded pilot wings, namely Lieutenant Mohd Al Azlan Shah Harun, Sub-Lieutenant Muhammad Firdaus Faisal, Sub-Lieutenant Awangku Mohd Farid Awang Engko Tajudin, Sub-Lieutenant Mohamad Ehram Mohd Noorlee, Sub-Lieutenant Muhammad Firdaus Ab Aziz, Sub-Lieutenant Muhammad Luqman Bahari and Sub-Lieutenant Faqrul Shafiq Mohd Fadzludin.
At the same ceremony, six trainees from the Air Systems Officer Course Series 2/2024 and five flight instructors also received certificates of completion, while four trainees were recognised as best in their respective categories.
