KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Anthony Loke dismissed claims that the government neglected the search-and-rescue operation to locate a Malaysian-registered cargo ship, MV Dai Cat 06, which has been reported missing since January.
He said the country’s security agencies are working hard to locate the missing vessel.
“There is no issue regarding cost in the (search) operation (as) this (involves) human life. We don’t look at the cost.
“However, the ship was reported missing in Indonesian waters, so search-and-rescue operations are under Indonesian authorities,” he said in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (Tuaran-PH) about the government’s efforts to locate the missing ship during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Loke said he had instructed the Marine Department to conduct serious monitoring and ensure that the mission to locate the ship will continue with the Indonesian authorities.
“Wisma Putra has been in contact with the authorities in Indonesia. Furthermore, in terms of (the search) operation, it is under the purview of the MMEA (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency), while the Marine Department is always in contact and working with MMEA to ensure that the operations continue,” he said.
Loke added that based on movements monitored by the Marine Department through the Automatic Identification System (AIS), MV Dai Cat 06 was recorded be sailing out of Lumut on December 23 last year, and anchored in the waters of Sg Besar from December 26 to 28 for main engine and anchor system maintenance.
The vessel was also detected to have switched off the AIS on December 25 and from December 29 to 30 last year.
He said that the last position of the ship detected through the AIS was on January 1 in Sector 9 of the Traffic Separation Scheme around Pulau Mungging, Johor.
“However, from the last position received through the Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon from the MMEA, the ship was in Indonesian waters,” he said.
On January 9, the MV Dai Cat 06 cargo ship carrying pipes worth RM726,205 along with five crew members was believed to have disappeared in Indonesian waters, and a report regarding the incident was lodged by the ship’s agent on the same day. – Bernama, March 23, 2023
