MMEA detains passenger boat near Kemena estuary for maritime offence
Photo shows the boat and crew detained for further action.
BINTULU (May 12): The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu Maritime Zone detained a passenger boat on Sunday for failing to notify authorities of a change of captain, an offence under Malaysian maritime law.
Bintulu Maritime Zone director Capt Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah said the vessel was intercepted around one nautical mile northwest of the Kemena River estuary during a routine patrol.
An initial inspection found the boat was operated by two Malaysian crew members, aged 50 and 24.
'The vessel is believed to have violated Section 477(2) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952, which requires any change of captain to be officially reported to the port officer.
'Non-compliance is subject to fines or compound action,' he explained in a statement.
The vessel and its crew were subsequently detained and escorted to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Vessel Detention Centre, where they were handed over to investigators for further investigation.
Muhammad Suffian reminded all maritime operators to comply with maritime laws and always follow sea safety protocols to help prevent unwanted incidents.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Focus Malaysia
5 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Ramasamy unravels Malaysia's road safety crisis: Can Minister Anthony Loke rise to the challenge?
THE recent chartered bus tragedy near Tasik Banding along the Gerik-Jeli East West Highway which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students has once again thrown a harsh spotlight on Malaysia's persistent and worsening road safety crisis. It is a grim reminder of the systemic failures in the country's transport management = a system that continues to cost innocent lives with alarming regularity. Under the leadership of Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, the Transport Ministry (MOT) has shown a concerning pattern: a reactive approach to fatal road accidents rather than proactive, sustained intervention. Investigations, inspections and audits only seem to follow after devastating crashes. This cycle of delayed accountability and knee-jerk responses has done little to stem the tide of fatalities on Malaysian roads. The core issue is not the lack of regulation – vehicle inspections, licensing protocols and road safety measures technically exist. The problem lies in their poor enforcement and a bureaucratic machinery undermined by endemic corruption. From graft to fancy license plates Reports have repeatedly pointed to corruption as the chief obstacle to ensuring heavy vehicles such as buses and lorries are roadworthy. From falsified inspection records to bribes for driving licenses, corruption has hollowed out the very institutions meant to safeguard road safety. Malaysia once prided itself on a modern highway system, particularly the North-South Expressway. But years of under-investment, skyrocketing vehicle ownership and failure to expand or diversify routes have made these roads dangerously congested. Lateral highways have done little to absorb traffic overflow while heavy vehicles dominate the roads at all hours – many poorly maintained and driven by operators under intense pressure to meet unrealistic schedules. The MOT appears ill-equipped to handle this growing crisis. It lacks not only sufficient funding and manpower but also the strategic vision and political will to enforce reform. Despite years of tragic accidents, there has been little systemic overhaul. Instead, the ministry appears consumed with superficial matters – such as regulating fancy license plates – while the real problems fester. Robust overhauling Minister Loke must break this pattern. He must demonstrate that his ministry is not merely a passive observer of road tragedies but an active agent of change. A full revamp of the ministry's enforcement arms – including the Road Transport Department (JPJ), the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the PUSPAKOM vehicle inspection service – is urgently needed. These agencies require robust oversight, strict anti-corruption mechanisms and modernised infrastructure to carry out their duties effectively. Families have been shattered and lives lost in accidents that were entirely preventable. Unless there is a paradigm shift in how the government tackles this issue, Malaysia risks being labelled as having one of the most dangerous traffic systems in Asia. Can Minister Loke transform Malaysia's roads into some of the safest in the region? Or will the country continue to descend down the rankings, its roads becoming synonymous with fear, injury and death? Road safety demands political courage – not photo opportunities. The time for reaction is over. What Malaysia needs now is a Transport Minister with the vision and resolve to act before the next tragedy strikes. – June 10, 2025 Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Image credit: Bernama
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
SOP to address speeding in buses already in place since 2015
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite a circular issued nearly a decade ago mandating strict measures against speeding by express and chartered buses, deadly crashes continue to plague Malaysian roads. The latest incident in Gerik, involving a chartered bus, tragically claimed the lives of 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The accident has sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny over the enforcement and compliance with safety protocols, one of which is a 2015 circular issued by the now-defunct Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD). SPAD was decommissioned in 2018 and taken over by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad). On Feb 27, 2015, SPAD, under the leadership of then chief executive officer Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamad Kamal, issued a circular (effective April 27, 205) requiring all licensed express, charter, and tour bus operators to take immediate action upon receiving complaints of speeding. Among the key mandates was that all public service buses must be equipped with GPS tracking systems and operators are responsible for continuous real-time monitoring of their vehicles. "If a vehicle is found speeding, whether through passenger complaints, public reports, or GPS detection, operators must immediately contact the driver to reduce speed. "Operators must then report actions taken to both the complainant and SPAD, and submit GPS records and incident logs to the regulator within 24 hours," the circular reads. Failure to adhere to these requirements would constitute a breach of licensing conditions. The 2015 circular also required operators to submit and update key contact information — including complaint hotlines, management contacts, and email/fax details — within five working days of any changes. The tragedy has reignited calls for better oversight and for better enforcement of safety regulations. Police said the investigation into the bus crash is still in its early stages, and urged the public to allow the investigation to run its course.
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Govt rolls out three-year internet safety drive
THE Communications Ministry, in partnership with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), recently launched the Safe Internet Campaign. This nationwide initiative aims to bolster public awareness and digital resilience in the face of growing online threats, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), cyberbullying, and online scams. The campaign, which runs from this year to 2027, will target various segments of society, including children, teenagers, university students, educators, parents and senior citizens. According to the ministry, the initiative is part of a long-term strategy to build a more secure and responsible digital ecosystem in Malaysia. In recent years, Malaysian authorities have seen a spike in CSAM-related cases. This growing threat has raised alarms not only among Malaysian authorities but also internationally. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has observed that Malaysia is facing trends similar to other countries, with offenders using increasingly sophisticated tools to commit and conceal their crimes. "General trends in Malaysia are similar to those in other countries, where criminals are becoming more adept at using encryption to communicate, anonymising software to access websites, using cryptocurrency to purchase CSAM and virtual private networks to host criminal marketplaces trafficking in CSAM. "These measures obscure the identities of these globally distributed criminals and make it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate," the agency told the New Straits Times. INCLUSIVE APPROACH The first phase of the campaign, set for rollout throughout this year, will involve more than 10,000 schools nationwide. Specialised modules on internet safety will be introduced for children under 13 to lay a foundation for responsible digital use. Educators and parents will also receive training and digital safety guides, enabling them to more effectively monitor and support young internet users. Among the campaign's key engagements are interactive exhibitions, cybersecurity workshops and school-level competitions themed around ethical internet use. The second phase, from 2026 to 2027, will focus on grassroots communities including Rukun Tetangga, village committees and non-governmental organisations. This will ensure that marginalised and digitally vulnerable groups, particularly senior citizens, are not left behind. URGENCY OF LEGAL ACTION Under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, producing, distributing or possessing CSAM carries prison sentences of up to 30 years and caning. The Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, specifically Section 233, provides MCMC with the authority to act against improper online content, including CSAM. Recent high-profile investigations, including Operation Global, which led to the rescue of 625 victims and 415 arrests, underscore the severity of the issue. Following the raids, RM580,000 in assets linked to a religious-linked syndicate accused of abuse and content distribution were frozen. EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY Authorities stress that digital safety is a shared responsibility. Parents are encouraged to have open conversations with children about online conduct. Schools must incorporate internet literacy into the curriculum, while platform providers and ISPs are expected to respond swiftly to takedown requests. The campaign also promotes the practice of "Verify Before You Share", urging students to avoid spreading unverified content — a move that supports broader efforts to counter misinformation and harmful material. As Malaysia moves forward with its national digital transformation, safeguarding children and vulnerable users must remain a shared priority, both online and offline. The Safe Internet Campaign sets a strong precedent for how Malaysia can address CSAM and digital threats. But success will depend on public vigilance, education and a willingness to act decisively against those who prey on the vulnerable. The public can report suspected CSAM activity through the MCMC complaint portal at Cyber999 at cyber999@ or any police station.
