PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a small fishing boat about 1.1 nautical miles southwest of Kapar after its crew failed to produce valid documentation.
Selangor MMEA director Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 10) that the boat was stopped on Monday night.
Initial inspections found that the boat was operated by a 36-year-old local man and two Indonesian crew members, ages 30 and 47.
Checks showed that both foreign crew members lacked valid identification and work permits.
“The employment of foreign nationals without authorisation is a clear violation of the conditions of a valid fishing licence,” he said.
The search party also found around 150kg of fish on board the boat. All suspects have been brought to the Pulau Indah Marine Police jetty for further investigation.
“The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 for breaching licence conditions by employing foreign workers without permission, as well as under the Immigration Act 1959/63 against the two crew members for failing to possess valid identification documents,” he said.
