MMEA Overcomes Aggressive Foreign Vessel In Miri Waters

KUCHING, May 31 (Bernama) -- A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) patrol faced tense moments when they subdued an aggressive attempt by a Vietnamese fishing boat to trespass into Malaysian waters, near Miri, in northern Sarawak yesterday.

Its director Miri Zone director, Maritime Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the standoff occurred when the crew of a vessel from Vietnam, one of the foreign national vessels (VNA) involved, refused to cooperate when they were confronted at around 31 nautical miles (nm) northwest of Kuala Niah, Miri.

“They carried out dangerous manoeuvres, throwing hard and sharp objects at the MMEA enforcement personnel in rough seas, threatening the safety and lives of the security forces,” he said in a statement today.

However, the situation was successfully controlled and the foreign vessel, with three Vietnamese on board, was detained without any injuries to maritime personnel on duty.

Earlier, the MMEA had detained another foreign vessel and five Indonesians on board at a position 38 nm northwest of Kuala Suai, Miri.

Khairol said the two vessels and crew, aged between 25 and 53, were then taken to the Miri Maritime Zone Complex in a journey which took nearly 18 hours due to rough weather over the long distance.

According to him, the two boats with fishing and navigation equipment, worth a total of about RM3.3 million, were seized, while the crew members are being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985.

-- BERNAMA