GEORGE TOWN: Penang's Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a local fishing boat manned by a crew of five Myanmar nationals who did not have any valid travel documents nor work permit, 42.3 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Kendi near here on Friday (Feb 17).
Penang APMM director Maritime Captain Abd Razak Mohamed said they encountered the Class C boat engaged in fishing activities at 10.30am while on routine patrol.
"We arrested the skipper (tekong) and four men who are all Myanmar nationals aged 23 to 42 when they were caught fishing with a trawl net and on inspection failed to present identification papers.
"The enforcement officers also discovered they were fishing without a work permit from the director-general of the Malaysian Fisheries Department," he said here on Saturday (Feb 18).
He said the case was being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Fisheries Act 1985 for violating the conditions of the licence as the boat owner employed foreigners without a work permit.
He said the vessel, fishing equipment and 300kg of seafood were seized, adding that stern action would be taken against boat owners who employ foreign workers without valid papers. - Bernama
