The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is keeping an eye on 28 ‘mysterious’ Chinese fishing vessels that have been berthing at Tanjung Manis but not conducting any fishing activities.

What is puzzling MMEA most, is that out of the 28 vessels, 21 of them possess local fishing licences.

On those that possess local fishing licenses, Sarawak MMEA chief First Admiral Ismaili Bujang Pit said they had been berthing at Tanjung Manis for the past two years.

“Since 2014 until today, there have been no fishing activities going on by these 21 foreign vessels. And only skeletal crews are left on board these ships as many have left for home.

“We neither want to over-react nor do we want to let down our guard. It is our responsibility to keep our waters safe as well as safeguard our country’s sovereignty,” Ismaili told The Borneo Post at his office at the MMEA complex in Muara Tebas near here yesterday.

As for the fishing vessels that failed to produce local fishing licences, Ismaili said they were newcomers and also did not carry out fishing activities.

MMEA is questioning their intention of staying within Malaysian waters but remaining dormant.

“We do not know if they are in the midst of applying for licence or their vessels are experiencing some technical problems. Regardless, the presence of all these 28 vessels is making us uneasy. They have no rights to berth there for so long and we do not know their intention,” said Ismaili.

As all these vessels have not been operating and in view of the recent dispute at the South China Sea, Ismaili regards them as ‘mysterious’ and is suspicious of their intention of staying in Malaysian waters.

Because of that, Ismaili has stationed 30 of his personnel in Tanjung Manis and a big vessel to monitor the situation.

“Our next step is to dispense another large vessel, so that we can go onboard these Chinese fishing vessels to see what is going on in these vessels,” said Ismaili.

To further heighten the safety of Sarawak’s coast, there is a plan to set up a MMEA base at Mukah to better monitor the stretch between Tanjung Manis and Bintulu.

When contacted over the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas expressed surprise that there was such a big number of foreign fishing vessels berthing at Tanjung Manis idly.

“I will make a site visit to Tanjung Manis soonest possible to see what is actually going on with these seemingly dormant foreign fishing vessels,” said Uggah.

Meanwhile, when asked on the nature of cases that MMEA had come across, Ismaili said they mostly involved local fishing boats which stood at 507 out of the 950 cases recorded between 2006 and July 2016.

“Second highest offence on the list – 169 cases of them within the last 10 years – involves cargo ships. The main offence involving cargo ships is usually the hiring of a non qualified captains and crew members.

“So we are also planning to conduct a workshop in Sibu soon to give necessary training and qualification to those who earn a living going to the sea but have no qualifications,” said Ismaili.

He pointed out that MMEA was helping the Marine Police to monitor the smuggling of illegal logs, and said over the last ten years the agency was able to bring to justice 20 cases.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Lian Cheng & Peter Sibon

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