MMEA detains six passenger boats for flouting conditions

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained six passenger boats on suspicion of violating the conditions of their permits in a Special Operation in the waters of Rampayan, Kota Belud, yesterday.
Kota Kinabalu District Maritime director Maritime First Admiral Adam Aziz said three passenger boats were suspected of carrying passengers in excess of their permitted number, while three other boats were skippered by people whose names were not stipulated in their respective permits.
He said all the passenger boats detained in the operation under the Sabah Ports and Wharf Department (JPDS) Enactment, between 10am and 11.30am, had been escorted to Teluk Usukan Jetty for further action.
"The special operation was conducted by six officers and 10 personnel in conjunction with the Chinese New Year festivities aimed at ensuring tourist boats complied with the stipulated conditions to ensure the safety of tourists is always stressed," he said in a statement today.
According to him, passenger boat operators were suspected of taking on excessive passenger loads to earn more profit without heeding incidents of mishaps prior to this. — Bernama