KLANG: A local fishing boat was detained off Sekinchan for being operated by illegal immigrants, says Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Selangor state director Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh
He said the Class B1 fishing boat was detected and intercepted at around 8.15am on Thursday (Jan 25) at a position of 6.4 nautical miles from Sekinchan.
"During patrols, we detected the boat conducting fishing activities less than eight nautical miles from land,After the boat was held, an inspection found that the boat was operated by a skipper and three Myanmar nationals aged between 34 to 59," said Abdul Muhaimin.
"All suspects failed to present valid identification documents and work permits or a letter of permission from the Director General of Fisheries Malaysia to work on the boat in question," he added in a statement on Thursday.
He said all of them were then arrested along with the estimated mixed catch weighing aroubd 200 kg and added that they were all escorted to the Marine Police Jetty at Pulau Indah for further investigation.
"The case has been classified under the Fisheries Act 1985 for violating the valid conditions of the license including carrying out fishing activities below eight nautical miles," said Abdul Muhaimin.
"This case is also being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 because all of the suspects do not have valid identification documents," he added.
Abdul Muhaimin said the MMEA would continue to increase monitoring and law enforcement in the waters of Malaysia, especially the waters of Selangor.
