KUCHING: The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained five Indonesians in a fishing vessel on suspicion of trespassing and fishing in Sarawak waters off Tanjung Manis.
MMEA Sarawak First Maritime Admiral Robert Teh Geok Chuan said that the MMEA Tanjung Manis team spotted a foreign fishing vessel carrying out fishing activities about 119 nautical miles north of Tanjung Sirik last Friday (June 26).
“Upon inspection, the team found five Indonesians aged between 25 and 37 years on board the vessel and they failed to show their identification documents to the authorities.
“The fishermen were detained and brought to Tanjung Manis passenger terminal jetty. At the jetty, Covid-19 swab tests were carried out on them by the Tanjung Manis port medical officer,” he said in a statement.
Robert noted that the case will be investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and Immigration Act 1959/63.
He added that MMEA was constantly striving to increase patrols of law enforcement personnel in the country’s marine zones to ensure the safety of vessels and boats in the nation’s waters.
Those with information on any suspicious activity in the waters are urged to contact 999 or the State Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544 which operates 24 hours.
