The robbery of a barge transporting 3,700 tonnes of palm oil, from Bintulu to Pulau Pinang, is an indicator that shipping companies must be more vigilant, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak region, chief First Admiral, Ismaili Bujang Pit noted.
Ismaili Bujang Pit, urged shipping companies not to be negligent when it come to the ships’ safety, as robbers will take advantage of such a situation, especially in Indonesia waters.
The company that was robbed, did not have a single incident throughout the year. However, it was robbed twice last year, thus making MMEA instruct them to inform the agency about their destination, every time the sail, in order to me monitored by MMEA and be provided with the appropriate security measures.
Because no incident occurred in 2017, the company became more comfortable and it did not contact MMEA, Mr. Bujang Pit said during a press conference, at the Tun Salahuddin Maritime Complex.
Furthermore, he added that in Sarawak, an other company is also licensed by the state to conduct surveillance and security services for logistic companies.
Speaking about the checks that have been made in the state’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), MMEA director general Maritime Admiral Dato Indera Zulkifli Abu Bakar, informed that Sarawak region has performed a total of 27,046 checks, since 2006.
In addition to the checks, 1,034 arrests have been made, Mr. Indera concluded.