Mersing: Two crew members of a passenger boat were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) after the vessel was suspected of committing violations of safety regulations in the waters off Pulau Besar.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mersing Maritime Zone Deputy Director of Operations, Maritime Lieutenant Hazuan Joha, stated that the boat was intercepted about 0.4 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Besar during routine patrols, Ops Jaksa and Ops Tiris 4.0, conducted by a Malaysian Maritime patrol team. The interception occurred around 1:00 pm, revealing that the boat was carrying 18 passengers, exceeding the 12-person limit as per its licence conditions.

Further inspections indicated that the boat operated without the requisite number of crew members. The local skipper, aged 22, and an accompanying crew member, aged 35, were operating the vessel. The passengers were not detained, but the skipper, crew, and the boat were taken to the Mersing Maritime Zone Headquarters Jetty for further investigation.

The incident is being investigated under the Boat Rules 1953 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952. These laws stipulate a fine of up to RM10,000 for each offence upon conviction. Maritime Lieutenant Hazuan Joha emphasized the importance of compliance with licence conditions, safety regulations, and maritime laws to ensure passenger safety.

He reiterated that the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency will continue to enforce regulations and intensify operations to guarantee the safety of waterway users and the smooth conduct of maritime activities.