Sarawak's sole opposition state assembly representative Chiew Chin Sing said the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) should investigate the alleged sub-contracting of deep-sea licensing permits to foreigners.

Speaking in the state legislative assembly today, Chiew (DAP-Kidurong) said some 140 licences issued to date are being monopolised by 26 companies, who have also been given permits to charter foreign fishing vessels and crew to operate off the Sarawak coast.

He wanted to know if it is a breach of licensing conditions to "rent out" permits to foreigners" and if the ACA would act against those concerned.

Most of the permits have allegedly been leased to Thai crews at RM5,000 to RM8,000 per month, as well as to Chinese and Filipinos.

Chiew claimed it was common knowledge that "very little of the fish caught lands in Sarawak as the foreign vessels transfer most of their catch to mother vessels in the open seas to be sold in other countries".

The policy, implemented since 1998, will lapse on June 30, 2006. However, Chiew said foreign boats are already being registered locally in order to circumvent the situation.

"Many of the foreign-owned boats, which are painted red, are now painted over to the green and blue used for local fishing boats," he added.

Chiew, describing this as dishonest, called for stern action by the authorities.

'Autonomy disregarded'

He claimed the DAP had held a dialogue recently with the Sarawak Fishing Vessels Association in Sibu, and that its members had expressed concern over the activities of the chartered vessels and their crew.

"Do they have the work permits and, if they do, how were these issued when we have so many local unemployed fishermen?" he asked.

"If it is because of the special skills of the foreign fishermen, why aren't our fisherman on board to learn from them? It appears that one reason for this policy is to improve the deep-sea fishing skills of local fishermen."

Chiew pointed out that Sarawak has kept its autonomy in immigration matters (instead of adopting federal procedures when it became part of Malaysia in 1963), but that allowing foreigners to operate freely is akin to throwing this to the winds.

"Why have we not used the autonomy to protect our people? It is time that immigration officers kept a close eye on such activities by checking on documents and to act, if they have not already done so."

He said Sarawakians should be the ones to benefit from the exploitation of the rich marine resources.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.