BINTULU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a local fishing boat for allegedly fishing outside the permitted zone yesterday (Jan 4).
MMEA Bintulu Zone director Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the arrest took place some nine nautical miles off Kuala Tatau around 10.30am.
The boat was operated by six crew members including its skipper – two locals and four Indonesians.
“The foreign crew members were found to have violated the immigration conditions in their permit.
“The. suspects, aged between 23 and 52, together with the vessel, fishing equipment and 100kg of freshly caught fish, were escorted to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Vessel Detention Centre for further action,” Mohd Khairol said.
He said the case will be investigated under Section 8(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 for violating the valid conditions of the licence, which may result in a compound from the Malaysian Fisheries Department.
Apart from that, the foreign crew members will be investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for allegedly entering Malaysia illegally and misusing the work permit.
Mohd Khairol said the arrest was made based on public complaints that there were still local fishing boats that encroached on coastal areas.
He appealed to the maritime community to channel information and complaints on suspicious activities at sea to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Maritime Operations Centre at 086-314254 and Sarawak Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544.
