ID :
369236
Fri, 05/29/2015 - 09:09
Auther :

Singapore Claims Malaysian-Held Fishing Vessel Was In Its Waters

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, May 29 (Bernama) -- Singapore has registered "our concerns" with Malaysia over the latter's detention of a Singapore-registered fishing vessel that the republic claims was in its waters when first approached by the Malaysian authorities. Channel NewsAsia (CNA) television quoted the Singapore Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) as having confirmed the incident on Thursday and saying that Singapore was in contact with the Malaysian authorities. CNA quoted an AVA spokesman as saying that the AVA-licensed fishing vessel, SMF1195, and its four crew were detained for alleged poaching in Malaysian waters. The report quoted AVA as saying that "Singapore understands that the fishing vessel was in Singapore waters when it was first approached by the Malaysian authorities. "Singapore has registered our concerns with Malaysia over this incident and is in contact with the Malaysian authorities." The vessel's owner, Lian Yak Fish Merchant, reportedly said the boat was about four nautical miles off Pedra Branca at 6 am on Tuesday when it was approached by a Malaysian patrol boat. The vessel was later detained at Kota Tinggi district in Johor, Malaysia's southern state. Lian Yak Fish Merchant also said that three Malaysian officials had boarded the vessel and told the crew to head towards Sedili in Kota Tinggi. "We arrived the next day, and the crew members were detained without bail," the company was quoted as saying. Lian Yak Fish Merchant said the vessel was probably not in Malaysian waters, as it had been fishing in the area for more than 40 years, and even though it had misunderstandings previously, they were resolved. The four crew are foreigners between the ages of 36 and 62, and they are slated to appear in court next Tuesday, the firm said. --BERNAMA

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