BY: Aida Aziz
KUALA KURAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) through the Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone detained a class B1 local fishing boat at a position 12 nautical miles west of Pulau Terong, yesterday.
Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Commander Mohd Najhan Azman Hamid said during a routine patrol in the waters of Kerian and Larut Matang, the Malaysian Maritime Patrol boat team spotted the boat that was doing fishing activities and was detained for inspection.
He said that the results of the inspection found three Thai fishermen, including a skipper aged between 39 and 47 years old, had identification documents but their tour passes had expired and were still on the boat.
“Further inspection found that the boat had a valid license but was not self-operated by the owner and there was no permission for the use of foreign crew by the Malaysian Director General of Fisheries.
“All fishermen, boats and fishing equipment have been arrested and taken to the Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Jetty for further action.
“The case is being investigated under Section 15 (1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for staying in Malaysia beyond the prescribed time and Section 8 (b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 for violating the valid conditions of the license that a boat is not operated by the owner and there is no permission to use a valid foreign crew,” he said on Friday.
Maritime Malaysia will continue to be committed to enforcing the law in the country’s waters.
Any complaints, misbehaviour and emergency incidents that occur at sea can be reported to the Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Operations Center at 05-7279919 or MERS 999 for immediate action.
