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Borneo Post
06-08-2025
- Borneo Post
Sarawak waters remain free from piracy, says deputy transport minister
Henry (centre) receives a memento from Kwon, as others look on. SIBU (Aug 6): Sarawak's coastal and riverine waters remain free from piracy and sea robberies, assured State Deputy Minister of Transport (Riverine and Marine) Dato Henry Harry Jinep. Speaking to reporters after launching the Anti-Piracy Forum, jointly organised by the Sarawak and Sabah Shipowners Association (SSSA) and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy (ReCAAP) here today, he said no incidents of piracy have been reported in Sarawak waters, including along major shipping routes to local ports. Henry explained that sea robberies generally occur in international waters, where no single enforcement agency has jurisdiction. 'As far as Sarawak is concerned, it is safe. In our rivers, there are no pirates, no robberies,' he said. Henry noted that piracy and robbery incidents usually happen in open waters beyond national boundaries, such as the route between Kuching and Singapore, where slow-moving barges are more vulnerable. 'After leaving Malaysian waters near Kuching, ships enter other territories before reaching Singapore. 'In between, there is a stretch with no enforcement agency, and that is where robberies sometimes happen,' he said, adding that such incidents rarely escalate to hostage-taking. Citing statistics from ReCAAP, he said more than 100 sea robbery cases were reported in Asian international waters last year – most of them outside Malaysian jurisdiction. Henry emphasised that the forum aimed to raise awareness among local shipping operators about safety measures and to strengthen cross-border cooperation in monitoring high-risk zones. 'The safety of our local shipowners is important. We work closely with federal maritime and naval authorities to ensure Sarawak waters remain secure,' he added. Also present at the forum were SSSA chairman Yong Ing Huong, ReCAAP ISC assistant director Kwon Soon Tee, and Malaysia Shipowners' Association (MASA) chairman Haji Mohamed Safwan Othman. Henry Harry Jinep piracy Sarawak waters
The Star
06-08-2025
- The Star
Anti-piracy watchdog logs 94 robberies on ships in Straits of Malacca and Singapore as of July 2025
SIBU: A total of 94 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore in the first seven months of this year. "According to the latest data from ReCAAP ISC (Information Sharing Centre), there were 111 incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia between January and July 2025. 'Of these, 94 incidents occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS area), making up 85% of the total number of incidents in Asia," said ReCAAP ISC assistant director Kwon Soon Tae at the Anti-Piracy Forum 2025 here on Wednesday (August 6). The forum was jointly organised by the Sarawak and Sabah Shipowners Association (SSSA) and ReCAAP (Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia). Kwon highlighted that most of these incidents involved large vessels. 'We are seeing more cases of unauthorised boarding of barges towed by tugboats, mainly to steal scrap metal." "From January to July this year, seven incidents involving tugs and barges were reported in the SOMS area, compared to four cases during the same period in 2024," he said. Explaining the ReCAAP, Kwon said that it is the first and only regional government-to-government agreement focused on combating piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. "The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre's mandate is to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. We conduct our activities through three main pillars: information sharing, capacity building, and cooperative arrangements. "We regularly engage partners like SSSA, other shipping associations, and governmental agencies. By working together, we aim to reach out to shipowners, masters and crew, and law enforcement agencies to find ways to prevent sea robbery and related crimes," he said. Meanwhile, state Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Harry Jinep told reporters that no incidents of piracy or robbery had been reported on rivers in Sarawak. "Our rivers are safe. We don't have piracy or robbery," he said.
