Fishermen told not to fear undercover MMEA enforcers

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Captain Shahref Steve Mac Queen Abdullah

BINTULU: The maritime communities should not fear the presence of enforcement authorities doing undercover operations if they are not committing any offence.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu director Captain Shahref Steve Mac Queen Abdullah said only those breaking the law should be afraid of being caught during any operations.

He said in any enforcement agency, undercover operations have proven to be effective in tackling crimes, especially nowadays when criminals seem more advanced than the authorities.

Shahref was responding to an issue raised by Sarawak
Fishing Vessel Association Bintulu branch on the use of longboats by MMEA enforcement teams when making arrests in the sea.

“We are not simply making arrests without any reason.

“MMEA Bintulu received lots of complaints from local traditional fishermen near to the shores.

“They are suffering as big fishing trawlers have been trespassing on their area which is located up to three nautical miles,” he said.

He added based on the existing law of the Fisheries Department, these big fishing vessels should not be operating in areas below three nautical miles from the shore.

However, all five cases with total seizure of five tonnes of fish that MMEA recorded this year involved big fishing vessels trespassing below three nautical miles and in one case about 0.7 nautical miles at Tanjung Payung near Kuala Nyalau.

Shahref said, previously, MMEA Bintulu used their assets to go to specific areas as per complaints on encroachment by the local fishermen, but when they reached the location, the fishing vessel which had been reportedly trespassing into zone A were nowhere to be found.

He added longboats were only used during undercover operations up to three nautical miles where these big fishing trawlers should not be there.

Shahref said there was no basis for them (Sarawak Fishing Vessel Association members) to worry about pirates disguising as MMEA enforcement personnel to attack them in the open sea as there had been no case of pirates hijacking fishing vessels in Bintulu waters.

During a press conference on Monday, the Sarawak Fishing Vessel Association Bintulu branch secretary Harry Tan expressed his concern about the possibility of such case happening.

He said their members felt threatened as if they were being chased by pirates when they were approached by the undercover MMEA enforcers.

To this, Shahref said that MMEA enforcers are fully dressed in uniform during operations and before doing any inspection, they would show their identification.

However, he pointed out that MMEA is ever ready for any possibility and reassured that MMEA enforcers would be patrolling Sarawak waters to protect local fishermen from any threats.

“I urge all maritime communities to come forward to MMEA and if possible to see me personally if they want to get further clarifications on any related issues.

“We are just doing our job and I am open and glad to explain our roles to protect Malaysian waters,” said Shahref.