BATU PAHAT: Six Indonesians have been arrested by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) while trying to leave the country via Tampok near Pontian.
Batu Pahat maritime zone director maritime commander Mohd Haniff Mohd Yunus said the agency spotted a suspicious boat within Malaysian waters around 9.30am on Friday (March 15).
"We immediately cut off the boat’s route and found six Indonesians on the boat some 10 nautical miles southwest of Tampok.
"The captain and passengers, aged between 26 and 42, do not have any identification documents to enter our country," he said on Saturday (March 16).
Mohd Haniff added that further investigation found that the group was trying to leave Malaysia and heading towards Batam in Indonesia.
He said the boat, together with the suspects, had been brought to Batu Pahat maritime zone jetty and handed over to its investigation unit for further probe.
"The boat’s tekong is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007 and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
"The five Indonesian passengers are being investigated under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said, adding that MMEA would continue carrying out its enforcement operation to ensure that Johor waters is safe.
