Selangor: The Selangor branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a local fishing vessel (VNT) and four Myanmar nationals for allegedly violating fishing licence conditions in the state's waters yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the vessel was detained by an MMEA boat conducting routine patrols at a position 15.3 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Tengah at 5.30 pm. Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh, the director of the Selangor MMEA, stated that an inspection revealed the vessel was operated by four Myanmar crew members, including the skipper, all aged between 25 and 46. These individuals failed to produce valid work permits or authorisation letters.

Further checks disclosed that the skipper and one crew member had identification documents, while the other two crew members did not have any valid identification documents. Information from the Fisheries Department's Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) indicated that the vessel had entered areas outside Malaysian fishing waters without the permission of the Department of Fisheries Malaysia director-general.

Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin added that an estimated 500 kilogrammes of fish catch was seized. The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 for breaching licence conditions, including employing foreign workers without permission from the Department of Fisheries Malaysia director-general and operating outside authorised fishing areas. Additionally, the case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 due to two crew members being found without valid identification documents.