KUALA LUMPUR The marine police have warned fishermen to be cautious as armed pirates boost their maritime attacks ahead of the year-end festive season, local media reported Sunday.

Federal marine commander Muhamad Muda was quoted by the Sunday Star as saying pirates had traded their machetes for guns to wage attacks on fishermen and traders in small boats.

Two fishing boats and a trading vessel have been attacked over the past few days, he said, prompting a boost in police marine patrols especially at night.

"This is the first time we see a trend of increased attacks by robbers taking advantage of the coming festive season," Muhamad was quoted as saying.

"We advise fishermen not to cross the boundary, be constantly on the look-out and to alert the marine police if they spot any suspicious boats trailing them."

Late Thursday, pistol-toting pirates raided a fishing boat in waters off southwestern Negeri Sembilan state and seized fishing equipment after failing to negotiate for money.

Verify claims

Muhamad said Malaysian police would seek to verify victims' claims that the boat and weapons used by the robbers were similar to those used by Indonesian authorities.

Also Thursday, armed pirates fled into Philippine waters after shooting the captain of another fishing boat in Sabah state on Borneo island, he said.

On November 24, a trading boat bound for Malaysia's Penang state from Indonesian Aceh province was attacked in Indonesian waters. All 13 crewmembers were unharmed after the pirates failed to get ransom.

The boost in pirate attacks precedes next week's Muslim Hari Raya festival marking the end of the Ramadan fasting month as well as the Christmas and New Year season. AFP