The Special Tasks and Rescue Team (Malay: Pasukan Tindakan Khas dan Penyelamat, Jawi: ڤاسوكن تيندقن خاص دان ڤڽلامت ماريتيم), abbreviated as STAR, serves as the command for elite maritime special operations and underwater divers within the Malaysia Coast Guard.

To avoid confusion with international shipping operators, the name was later changed to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), maintaining the same abbreviation as the original name.

As a result, PTK-APMM was renamed Pasukan Tindakan Khas dan Penyelamat Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia in Malay, or Special Tasks and Rescue Team in English.

[14] The Special Tasks and Rescue Team (STAR) was established to support the agency in enforcing laws and regulations in the Maritime Zone of Malaysia.

The selection and training programmes for these units are outlined as follows:[1][4][19] Each candidate must successfully navigate through five stages of the Malaysian Armed Forces Special Forces Selection and undergo one mandatory advanced training session before being conferred with the STAR Scarlet Red Beret and STAR Special Operations Insignia.

The stages are outlined as follows:[1] In the year 2011, instructors from PASKAU and STAR supervised the preparatory course, which took place at the RMAF Kuala Lumpur Airbase and lasted for one month.

[21] Throughout this course, trainees will be equipped with the skills necessary to build mental and physical strength, fostering a sense of esprit de corps in anticipation of the forthcoming Basic Commando Course.

This intensive four-week program is designed for maritime special forces such as MCG-SAT, PASKAL, and diver units within the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and MCG.

[1] Upon completing the 12-week Basic Commando Course, each trainee is required to undergo a six-week Kursus Pengenalan Tindakan Khas (lit.

[5] In the culminating ceremony, trainees are honoured with the scarlet red beret and STAR Special Operations Insignia, signifying their official acceptance into this elite unit.

The training focused on close quarters combat and ship boarding, and rescue operations aboard the KD Panglima Hitam, situated at the RMN Lumut Naval Base.

The training also encompassed the utilisation of coast guard's assets such as KM Gagah vessels and two Kilat boat classes from the Lumut Maritime District HQ (MD3).

Subsequently, recognising the geographical proximity, MCG began sending its rescue diver candidates to the Japan Coast Guard's training centre.

[25] In 2023, MCG took a significant step by organising its first rescue diver selection and training, with supervision provided by a representative from the Japan Coast Guard.

[27] The Special Tasks and Rescue Team administers the test, commonly known as the Ujian Kelayakan Penyelam Penyelamat in Malay, over approximately two weeks.

[27] Known as the Ujian Kelayakan Kebuk Mampatan in Malay, this test spans approximately one week and includes both physical training and medical evaluations.

The test adheres to the standards set by the Royal Malaysian Navy Mine Warfare and Diving Centre (KD Duyong).

[29] Graduates of the Search and Rescue Diver Course are sent to the MCG Diving School, situated in the Sultan Ahmad Shah Coast Guard Academy in Kuantan, Pahang.

[30] On 7 September 2017, the STAR team from the Malaysia Coast Guard (MCG) thwarted a plan by 13 Indonesian pirates to rob and hijack a Thailand-registered oil tanker near Tenggol Island.

[33] Upon receiving a report from a local fisherman who had spotted pirates boarding the Tanker MGT1 about 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) from Yu Besar Island, the MCG deployed a STAR team for a rescue mission.

[33] Following the pirates' arrest and subsequent interrogation, Malaysian authorities apprehended the mastermind, an Indonesian man in his 50s, at a hotel in Johor Bahru at noon.

[33] On 1 June 2018, a STAR team arrested 14 pirates aboard the MT Bright, located 25 nautical miles (46 km) off the coast of Mersing within Malaysian waters, during a pre-dawn raid.

Prior to this arrest, the command centre had reported that these pirates were in the process of robbing the Mongolian-registered merchant vessel, MT Lee Bo, and confiscating all personal items from the crew.

[35] Identifying the pirates' vessel as the MT Bright, the STAR team descended from their helicopter and successfully arrested all 14 individuals on board.

Acting on this intelligence, the Malaysia Coast Guard's strategic partner, the Indonesian Western Fleet Quick Response - Angkatan Laut (WFQR-AL), was alerted.