Navy drives out nine Indonesian fishing boats from Malaysian waters

KD Mahawangsa. -filepic

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The Royal Malaysian Navy chased out nine Indonesian fishing boats that encroached into Malaysian waters about 44 nautical miles southeast of Pulau Perak, Kedah on Saturday (Feb 6) evening.

The Western Fleet Command Headquarters’ Strategic Communication Division said in a statement on the same day that the fishing boats were chased out by KD Mahawangsa while carrying out patrolling duties under Op Benteng in the North Melaka Straits at about 1 pm.

"KD Mahawangsa was on patrol when it detected the nine Indonesian fishing boats in Malaysian waters. Upon realising the presence of the ship, all the fishing boats quickly headed out of Malaysian waters, ” it said in the statement.

It added that a CL-415MP aircraft belonging to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) was performing air reconnaissance in the North Melaka Straits and was also used to help chase out the Indonesian fishing boats at 3.20 pm.

KD Mahawangsa then continued to patrol the North Melaka Straits to prevent foreign fishing boats from encroaching into Malaysian waters. - Bernama