KUALA LUMPUR – There appears to be some confusion among the authorities over who is responsible for investigating the recent encroachment by an Iranian-manned tugboat into Malaysian waters that has sparked security fears.
Attempts by The Vibes to get an update on the matter found that the relevant agencies have claimed the case is not under their jurisdiction and passing the buck from one to the other.
A high-ranking official from the Marine Department said since the matter concerns intrusion into Malaysian territory, the case had to be handed over to the enforcement agencies –police and immigration – as well as the port authority in Penang, where the vessel had berthed undetected.
“We are not involved (in the probe). The Immigration Department is involved because it concerns entry without approval, and police because it concerns a crime.
“The Marine Department is only in charge when it comes to the port. So, we leave it to the relevant agencies, which include the Penang Port Commission (PPC).”
However, PPC chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, when contacted, said the matter is in the hands of police, hence he cannot respond to queries on the investigation.
Interestingly, Penang police said the case no longer comes under its purview, and that it is now up to the Marine Department whether to take further action.
An officer, who declined to be named, said the decision was made by the state prosecution office in a meeting involving all relevant authorities on December 28 last year.
“The prosecutors have ordered the matter to be passed to the Marine Department on whether to proceed or not. We will have to follow the instruction.”
Contacted once more, the Marine official said: “This information didn’t reach us. As far as I am concerned, I don’t know of such instruction.”
Meanwhile, an officer from the prosecution department did not provide any detail when asked on the December 28 meeting, merely saying that any query on this has to go through police.
Among the issues that The Vibes has sought updates on are the latest status of the investigations, whether statements were taken from the crewmen, and whether authorities conducted checks on the boat’s navigation and satellite data.
Attempts to get Senior Minister (security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin and the Immigration Department to comment were unsuccessful at the time of writing.
On December 11 last year, a tugboat manned by three Iranians reached the Penang channel after trespassing through the border, and berthed unnoticed at the port’s North Butterworth Container Terminal, raising concerns about ease of security breach.
The Tanzanian-registered MV Fire Man Zanzibar, which reportedly carried a fake certificate of registry, had docked illegally after two of its crew members fell ill. The vessel was also short on fuel and food supply for crewmen. – The Vibes, January 6, 2021
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