ISKANDAR PUTERI: The handling of the verbal altercation between several Malaysian fishermen and the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) officers should be left to the authorities from both countries, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Calling the incident "a misunderstanding," the Johor Mentri Besar said there was no need to prolong the matter.
"It is actually not a big issue, and I am sure the Malaysian and Singaporean governments can solve it through the authorities.
"I leave it to the Royal Malaysian Police to investigate and do the necessary," he told the media when asked to comment on the issue on Wednesday (Oct 26).
He also urged the public to refrain from further speculating about the matter.
A group of 10 local fishermen claimed they were chased away by Singaporean authorities while setting up shrimp nets in the Pasir Laba area, near the Second Link Bridge, Iskandar Puteri at 5.30pm Sunday (Oct 23).
A video of the verbal altercation between them had gone viral, leading to the local fishermen to lodge a police report via their representatives on Monday (Oct 24).
Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm Rahmat Ariffin said the report was received at 2.30pm Monday and further investigations are underway.
On Wednesday, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) refuted the allegations, saying it was wholly untrue as the incident had happened in the republic’s territorial waters off Lim Chu Kang.
In its statement, the SPF said that on Oct 23, at about 4pm, PCG officers were patrolling Singapore territorial waters when they spotted a group of Malaysian fishing vessels entering and exiting the live firing area off Lim Chu Kang.
As unauthorised vessels were prohibited from entering the live firing area, the PCG officers approached the Malaysian fishing vessels and used the public address system on the PCG boat to advise them to leave the area for their own safety.
The SPF said that at about 5.30pm, several Malaysian fishing vessels approached the PCG officers, and their crew expressed unhappiness at being asked to leave the area.
SPF said: "Our officers explained that unauthorised vessels were prohibited from entering the area, and asked them to leave for their own safety.
"After a verbal exchange, the Malaysian fishing vessels returned to Malaysian territorial waters at about 5.37pm. This exchange also took place entirely in Singapore territorial waters."
