GEORGE TOWN – Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has expressed concern over a foreign vessel manned by an Iranian crew that entered Malaysian waters and docked itself undetected in Penang on December 11.
“There are many questions that need to be answered. I cannot comment until (I receive) a full briefing from my officers.
“This involves multiple agencies under the Defence and Home Ministries,” he told The Vibes when contacted. Ismail Sabri is also a senior minister in charge of security.
The Penang Port Commission – the regulatory authority over the port – meanwhile has left it to relevant enforcement agencies to investigate the case.
In a statement, the commission said the agencies are looking into how the MV Fire Man Zanzibar, a firefighting tugboat registered in Tanzania, sailed in to eventually berth at wharf N1 of the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT).
It added that its office received a report on the incident from operator Penang Port Sdn Bhd at 9.45am on December 11, adding that the operator was ordered to conduct security control over the tugboat and alert all relevant enforcement agencies on the matter.
The operator also lodged a report with the Marine Department on its security status, in line with NBCT’s accreditation as an International Ship and Port Facility Security terminal.
The statement said initial investigations revealed that the Tanzanian-registered vessel was from Japan and on its way to the United Arab Emirates when it ran short on fuel.
It also sought medical help after two of its crew members fell sick.
The ill crewmen were rushed to Seberang Jaya Hospital for treatment. One was discharged the next day, while the other was discharged on December 15.
Currently, all the crew members are back on the vessel, which is under the supervision of the authorities.
The commission has instructed the port operator to conduct surveillance on the vessel, as the crewmen are not allowed to leave it.
The boat, which is now berthed at the Prai wharf, is awaiting instruction from the Iranian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for further action, as it was told that the embassy will appoint an agent to prepare travel documents and food for the crew during their stay in Malaysia.
The statement added that police were at the NBCT on December 14 to 16 for investigation purposes. The Immigration Department conducted its investigation on December 12, and Marine Department investigators came on December 14 and 15.
In a statement, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong said the incident should be viewed seriously as it is a matter of national security.
“Imagine what would have happened if the foreign vessel was carrying terrorists, or if the sick crew members tested positive for Covid-19 or were carriers of other contagious diseases.
“The government should conduct a thorough investigation to establish the negligence of the authorities who have failed to detect the encroachment of the foreign vessel into our waters, as lax security may seriously effect to our national security,” he said.
It is believed that this is the first time such an incident has occurred at the 200-year-old port, one of the oldest in the region.
The Iranian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is aware of the situation and an officer is expected to respond to the issue soon. – The Vibes, December 20, 2020
