Penang MMEA detains tuna fishing vessel for anchoring illegally
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a commercial fishing vessel that was anchored without permission in the country's waters yesterday afternoon.
Its director, Maritime Captain Muhammad Suffi Mohd Ramli said the vessel was detained at 7pm by a maritime patrol team about 10 nautical miles northwest of Muka Head after receiving information from the public at about 5pm.
"An inspection found the vessel was carrying about 12 tonnes of tuna and operated by 13 foreign crew members comprising Indonesian and Chinese nationals.
"The crew possessed valid identification documents; however, further inspection revealed that the vessel did not have a permit to anchor from the director of the Malaysian Marine Department as required by law," he said in a statement today.
Following this, Muhammad Suffi said the vessel's captain and chief engineer, aged 50 and 59, respectively, were taken to the MMEA office for further investigation according to Section 491B(1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
He also said the MMEA will continue to enhance surveillance and enforcement actions to ensure that the country's waters remain safe, secure, and free from any activities that could jeopardise maritime safety and the economy.
He said that his team would not compromise with any party that violates the country's maritime laws, especially involving suspicious activities in strategic waters such as Penang.
–Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
China security office flexes new power with Hong Kong probe
The raids show Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent is still expanding, five years after President Xi Jinping imposed a security law on the city. -- PHOTO: REUTERS HONG KONG/BEIJING (Bloomberg): Beijing's national security office in Hong Kong carried out its first known joint operation with city officials, marking an expansion of China's direct law enforcement in the financial hub. Local authorities on Thursday night announced they were investigating a case of alleged foreign collusion with China's Office for Safeguarding National Security. The office interviewed six people after requesting the support of Hong Kong police using new powers granted last month, according to a statement. Hong Kong security officials searched the homes of six suspects, as well as the office of an organization, and seized evidence including bank documents and devices. The individuals were also required to surrender their travel documents. The suspects are accused of "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' from November 2020 to June 2024, the government said. The statement didn't reveal their identities. The raids show Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent is still expanding, five years after President Xi Jinping imposed a security law on the city to cement Communist Party control. Hong Kong officials this week banned a video game for the first time under security legislation, accusing it of advocating armed revolution. That came days after imprisoned former activist Joshua Wong was hit with a fresh security charge. The one-time poster child of the city's pro-democracy protest movement was due for release in early 2027, having served two-thirds of his current 56-month prison term. In response to a Bloomberg News inquiry, a spokesman for the Hong Kong government said it "strongly opposes to unfounded allegations and slandering remarks against the joint operation' without specifying the offending statements. No one has been arrested in the ongoing investigation, the person said in an emailed reply. Fast-Tracked The joint operation this week marked the first application of the Safeguarding National Security Regulation, which was fast-tracked into law to facilitate Chinese security personnel. While the Beijing-imposed security law allows mainland officials to assume jurisdiction in certain cases, the new measures bolstered that legal framework for China's security apparatus to operate directly within Hong Kong's common law system. The May 13 legislation, which took effect before being review by lawmakers, requires Hong Kong government departments and civil servants to provide "all necessary and reasonable assistance, facilitation, support, backing and protection' to the Chinese security officers upon request. The new rules also criminalize acts that could impede the China-run office's work, including disclosing details of its investigations, with penalties extending up to seven years in prison and fines. The Hong Kong government has signaled a continued emphasis on national security even as it vows to focus on supporting growth, which has been challenged by China's slowdown and an uncertain external environment. -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
Body of teacher discovered in Iskandar Puteri home
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The body of a 39-year-old teacher believed to have died about a month ago has been discovered at her home here. Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm M. Kumarasan said the woman's body was found by her neighbour, who noticed a foul smell coming from her house in Bandar Selesa Jaya on Thursday (June 12). A post-mortem conducted by a forensic specialist at Sultanah Aminah Hospital found the cause of death unascertainable due to advanced decomposition. The deceased is believed to have died approximately one month ago. Further investigation revealed that the woman is a teacher at a school in Taman Tunku Aminah and had not been coming to work since Sept 24 last year. He added that police are in the process of identifying the next of kin of the woman, who was unmarried. On Saturday (June 14), a Chinese primary school posted a tribute to the teacher on its Facebook page after learning about her passing. In the post, written in Mandarin, the school also appealed to the public for help in reaching out to the woman's next of kin, including an aunt believed to be living in Singapore and other relatives in Taiping, Perak.
The Star
19 hours ago
- The Star
Taiwanese gatecrashes wedding to ‘spy' on groom
HE gatecrashed a wedding on the pretext of 'spying' on the groom at the behest of the latter's ex-girlfriend, China Press reported. The man, with the surname Lin, snuck into the reception in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, by claiming to be the groom's relative. However, a receptionist felt something was amiss when the man did not give an ang pow. There were also more guests than seats available. Lin, who was handed to the police, explained that he was there to 'spy'. He said the groom's ex-girlfriend had asked him to attend and take photos as proof that the wedding had indeed taken place. The incident, which took place in January last year, led to Lin being charged in court for fraud. Prosecutors believed that he had gatecrashed the wedding just for a free meal. However, the district court later held that Lin was not there for free food as he had eaten before arriving at the wedding. Lin was found not guilty. > Richell Lee, the youngest member of the Malaysian all-girl group Four Golden Princess, has opened a third ballet academy. The daily also reported that her other dance schools are located in Bukit Mertajam and Sungai Petani. The latest one is in Kuala Langat, Selangor. 'A milestone in life worth celebrating. After nearly half a year of hard work, day and night, with my family, we're finally open for business!' she said on Instagram. Lee said she moved to her husband's hometown in Klang after getting married and decided to expand her business there. The biggest challenge, according to Lee, was getting the proper approvals and permits from the local government, which took two months. Lee, who has 31 years of experience in ballet, spent another four months decorating the school and recruiting students. Besides being the owner, she will also be teaching ballet there. Lee, who got married in 2021, gave birth to a son in 2023. The Four Golden Princess was a popular band among children in the 1990s. Their hits included Hong Qing Ting (Red Dragonfly) and Mi Feng Gong Zuo (Bees Hard at Work). The group produced more than 20 albums before disbanding in 2008. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a, it denotes a separate news item.
