While the country wrestles with the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysian maritime authorities are diligently ensuring that foreigners do not illegally enter out waters.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) chief Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the agency has beefed up enforcement operations to curb cross-border crimes and illegal fishing activities in the South China Sea.
“When the government implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO) to stem the transmission of Covid-19, many fishermen from Vietnam took advantage of it to intrude into our waters and rob us of our marine resources.
“We chased away 83 Vietnamese and 74 Indonesian fishing boats between March 18 and June 23. As of Oct 23, 719 Vietnamese crewmen of 66 fishing boats and five ‘motherships’ have been arrested under Op Kuda Laut, which was introduced on June 24,” he said in a statement.
Zubil said a total of 129 foreign fishing boats and 1,290 fishing crew were detained under Op Naga Barat in April 2019.
As of Oct 26, another 886 foreign fishermen from 102 fishing boats were arrested for intruding and robbing Malaysia’s fishing resources under Op Naga Timur in Sabah and Sarawak.
Zubil said the agency’s participation in the national-level, multi-agency Op Benteng since May has led to 82 arrests for various offences, the seizure of 18 boats without owners, chasing away of 14 foreign vessels, 47 sightings of “suspicious activities” and a sea robbery.
The agency’s Op Dalal also crippled syndicates smuggling illegal migrants, especially Rohingya, in the northern Peninsula area, after arresting several agents and ground coordinators between April and July this year.
Zubil said the country’s maritime borders present a unique challenge, as it cannot be guarded by erecting gates and fences, unlike land borders.
“Therefore, MMEA ensures that seven sea assets operate round-the-clock daily at each of the nation’s maritime borders with the help of two aircraft and our Sea Surveillance System (Swasla) radar station.
“Elite personnel from our Special Task and Rescue team are also on standby with our air assets to be deployed for special operations, especially in Sandakan, Semporna and Klang.
“Recently, we have also received seven Benteng class boats (fast interceptor craft) from the government… (these boats) can travel at speeds of around 60 knots.
“This new addition is timely as these assets can intercept and block speed boats of smugglers from neighbouring countries from coming in to Malaysian shores. Last week, we nabbed four cigarette smugglers from Indonesia with these boats,” he said.
2020 © New Straits Times, New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd. A part of Media Prima Group. Subscribe Disclaimer Personal Data Protection Act