LUMUT – The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has chased away 363 Indonesian fishing boats from the Perak waters from March 18 until yesterday.
Its director general Admiral (Maritime) Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som today said this month alone, 173 Indonesian fishing boats encroaching into the Pulau Jarak waters were chased out.
He said on Nov 9, Maritime Ship (KM) Malawali chased away nine boats, followed by another 127 boats from Nov 16 to Nov 20 at between 23.6 and 25.7 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Jarak.
“Yesterday, KM Rawa chased away 37 fishing boats from the neighbouring country at 28.8 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Jarak.
“Investigations found that there were between five and eight crew members, including a skipper on board each of the boat,” he said in a statement today.
Mohd Zubil said operations to chase away foreign vessels from the country’s waters was part of efforts carried out to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
“MMEA will continue to mobilise its assets and intensify patrols as well as enforcement to ensure that our country’s waters are fully monitored,” he said.
— BERNAMA
