SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Sandakan Maritime Zone detained a 76-year-old Indonesian boat skipper and three crew members aboard a local vessel suspected of committing various offences near Sungai Asam here on Monday afternoon.
Sandakan MMEA Director, Maritime Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, said the Maritime Ship (KM) “Tebrau, conducting Op Pluto Timur, Op Khas Cegah Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (OCP) Utara Covid-19” and “Op Tiris 3.0”, detected a vessel on radar pulling nets in an unauthorised area, 2.6 nautical miles from the nearest shore.
He said initial checks revealed that the skipper had valid travel documents, however, the three crew members, aged between 19 and 41, believed to be of Palauh descent, presented identification documents that are deemed suspicious.
Suhairy said further inspections on the vessel uncovered the use of a VHF radio that did not meet the standards set or tested by SIRIM.
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The case will be investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for possession of suspicious identification documents, the Fisheries Act 1985 for violating licensing conditions, and the Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000 for operating communication equipment that does not comply with required standards.
Suhairy also reminded the maritime community to cooperate with the MMEAt Agency by reporting any illegal activities or emergencies at sea.
They can contact the Sandakan Maritime Zone’s 24-hour operations room at 089-229504 or the emergency hotline at 999.