Ministries to decide soon on disposal of seized foreign fishing boats

The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries (MoA) is now in the final process of discussions with the Home Ministry on methods of disposing of foreign boats seized for fishing in national waters.

"Whether they are to be bombed, burnt or sunk are now being discussed. Probably in two weeks’ time, there will be an event to show to the international community that we are serious in tackling the issue of incursions by foreign fishermen.

"I have also received a briefing from the director-general of the Fisheries Department that there were several Vietnamese boats that had been seized by the court,” said its minister, Salahuddin Ayub at the official opening of the Annual General Meeting of the National Fishermen Association (Nekmat) here today.

Also present were chairperson of the board of Nekmat, Abdul Hamid Bahari and chairperson of the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board Muhammad Faiz Fadzil.

- Bernama