GEORGE TOWN: Cast a fishing line beneath the Penang Bridge or Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge and you could find yourself arrested by camouflage-clad maritime officers aboard a high-powered patrol boat.
That was exactly what happened to three local anglers who were detained for allegedly trespassing into the prohibited waters beneath the bridges following a strict enforcement drive that began nearly two weeks ago.
Penang Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Kapt Muhammad Suffi Mohd Ramli said the enforcement had long been in place to protect critical national infrastructure.
He said both bridges are classified as National Critical Assets, making enforcement necessary to safeguard Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s high-voltage power cables and Telekom Malaysia’s telecommunications cables running beneath the structures.
He added that the waters beneath the Penang Bridge were gazetted as a Protected Area and Protected Place in 2011, while the same designation was extended to the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge in 2014.
In 2020, security measures were further tightened with the introduction of a 250m buffer zone on both sides of the bridge structures.
On the trio detained on Monday, Kapt Muhammad Suffi said they comprised two local men and a woman who were found fishing beneath the Penang Bridge.
The trio is being investigated under Section 447 of the Penal Code for criminal trespass.
Regular angler Rozaidi Ishak, 45, said the strict enforcement had left him with fewer places to fish on weekends.
“I feel a sense of loss because the waters beneath the bridges have always been among my favourite fishing spots.
“I’ve caught giant trevally there on many occasions, as well as grouper and golden snapper.
“Now I’ll have to look for other locations, although it won’t be easy because not every spot offers the same fishing experience or variety of fish.”
However, Rozaidi acknowledged the need to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure.
Boat operator Naim Salleh said the ban had affected operators who relied on taking anglers to the area.
He said many had lost an important source of income since enforcement began nearly two weeks ago.
“We hope the authorities can engage with anglers and boat operators to find a solution that balances security concerns with our livelihoods.”
Traditional fishermen at Batu Uban, however, largely supported the enforcement.
Fisherman Rashid Mohd Said, 64, said the waters beneath the bridges had long attracted anglers because they offered shade and abundant fish.
“But when too many anglers gather beneath the bridges, it also affects us because we can’t cast our nets when the area is crowded.”
Another fisherman, Mohd Noh Mohd Ariffin, 57, hoped authorities would allow fishermen to shelter beneath the bridges during storms.
“We understand the restrictions but we hope there can be an exception during bad weather.
“The bridges provide a safe place to wait until the weather improves,” he added.
