PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has driven away more than 100 foreign fishing boats, believed to be from China, from intruding into Malaysian waters at Beting Hempasan Banting (Luconia Breakers) off Sarawak, since March 24.
"Currently, the operation has given positive effects in blocking the intrusion of fishing vessels and direct them out of Malaysian waters," he said.
Ahmad Puzi was speaking to reporters after a handing-over of duties ceremony involving the post of MMEA deputy director-general (operations) at the MMEA headquarters here Tuesday.
At the event, Vice-Admiral Datuk Che Hassan Jusoh, 60, who goes on compulsory retirement tomorrow, handed over duties to deputy director-general(Logistics) Maritime Rear Admiral Datuk Zulkifli Abu Bakar who would be acting on the post.
On Thursday, Ahmad Puzi was reported as saying KM Siakap was on routine patrol around Miri when it detected more than 70 foreign fishing boats in the Beting Hempasan Banting (Luconia Breakers) area, one of the reefs at Beting Patinggi Ali (Luconia Shoals) about 11am.
On the same day, a Bombardier CL 415 aircraft spotted about 100 foreign fishing boats located about 52 nautical miles west of Beting Hempasan Banting.
Ahmad Puzi said MMEA tried to communicate with the fishing vessels on Channel 16 VHF and also other equipment but did not get any reply.
He said the MMEA had seized 826 foreign vessels so far, for intrusion into Malaysia's territorial waters. - Bernama
Its director-general Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar (pic) said six Malaysian Maritime ships, KM Banggi, KM Adil, KM Siakap, KM Jepak, KM Stapa and KM Rhu were involved in the operation to check on the presence of foreign fishing vessels.
As of Monday, the foreign fishing vessels were spotted about 15 nautical miles from the border of the Malaysian-Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEE)."Currently, the operation has given positive effects in blocking the intrusion of fishing vessels and direct them out of Malaysian waters," he said.
Ahmad Puzi was speaking to reporters after a handing-over of duties ceremony involving the post of MMEA deputy director-general (operations) at the MMEA headquarters here Tuesday.
At the event, Vice-Admiral Datuk Che Hassan Jusoh, 60, who goes on compulsory retirement tomorrow, handed over duties to deputy director-general(Logistics) Maritime Rear Admiral Datuk Zulkifli Abu Bakar who would be acting on the post.
On Thursday, Ahmad Puzi was reported as saying KM Siakap was on routine patrol around Miri when it detected more than 70 foreign fishing boats in the Beting Hempasan Banting (Luconia Breakers) area, one of the reefs at Beting Patinggi Ali (Luconia Shoals) about 11am.
On the same day, a Bombardier CL 415 aircraft spotted about 100 foreign fishing boats located about 52 nautical miles west of Beting Hempasan Banting.
Ahmad Puzi said MMEA tried to communicate with the fishing vessels on Channel 16 VHF and also other equipment but did not get any reply.
He said the MMEA had seized 826 foreign vessels so far, for intrusion into Malaysia's territorial waters. - Bernama
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