MMEA Detains Boat, Three Crew Over Identification Documents

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a local fishing boat and three foreign crew members yesterday for failing to produce valid identification documents.

Terengganu MMEA director Maritime Captain Hamiludin Che Awang said the trawler was detained during an enforcement operation at about 12.30 pm, 18.2 nautical miles northeast of the Kuala Terengganu estuary.

He said inspections found that three of the five crew members, all Myanmar nationals, failed to produce valid identification documents as required under the law.

“The inspection revealed five crew members on board, comprising two locals and three Myanmar fishermen,” he said in a statement today.

He said the two locals, including the 52-year-old skipper, were released after their statements were recorded, while the three Myanmar nationals, aged between 41 and 42, were detained for further investigation under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.

-- BERNAMA