PETALING JAYA: Irregularities and possible policy breaches by the Fisheries Department (DOF) have been found in its approval of fishing vessel transfer ownership, says the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).
EAIC said its investigations found that the DOF had been approving the ownership transfer of fishing vessels without complying with the policies and conditions set by the department itself.
The commission said it would refer its findings from its investigation to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry Secretary-General to take further action.
“We recommend that a letter of reprimand be issued to the DOF’s Head of Department to ensure compliance with the policies and conditions set by the department.
“The DOF was also informed to re-evaluate the approvals previously granted to the involved vessels to ensure transparency and compliance with existing circulars,” the commission said in a statement yesterday.
EAIC said the investigations were carried out due to complaints they received on alleged violations of existing licensing terms and policy by the DOF in the approval of applications of kenka trawlers and zone transfer applications.
Another separate investigation by EAIC also found that the Johor DOF had irregularities in its approval process in eight out of 10 vessels that were using destructive trawl nets.
The commission stated these approvals allegedly did not adhere to the Government’s Trawl Net Elimination Policy; the cases were investigated following a complaint filed with EAIC.
The commission said it had referred the case to the DOF’s Disciplinary Body to take disciplinary action against all its officers involved in the case.
“We are recommending disciplinary action be taken under Regulation 38 of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 as well as not following orders under Regulation 4(2)(i) of the same regulation,” it said.
The commission said that both investigations had been conducted under subsection 27(4) of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009 (Act 700).
These investigations are similar to disciplinary issues raised with the DOF over the last two months by EAIC.
This includes findings of misconduct in the handling of investigation files by an officer from the DOF at the Port Klang District Fisheries Office, Resource Protection Branch, earlier in May this year.
EAIC also reported earlier in June that the Penang DOF had failed to enforce trawler-designated zones in Penang, with complaints made over repeated intrusions by trawlers operating outside these designated zones.
