Malaysian authorities detained 10 Indonesian fishing boats that allegedly encroached into local waters, lured by what some fishery experts describe as an unusually bountiful harvest of fish in the wake of the tsunami last December.

First Admiral Abdul Hadi Rashid, director of the Lumut-based Maritime Enforcement Co-ordinating Centre, said this at a dialogue in Kuching yesterday with local fishermen on maritime safety and security.

He also related recent incidents that have affected Malaysian fishermen in local waters in the busy Straits of Malacca.

In one of these, he said an Indonesian navy patrol boat intercepted a Malaysian fishing boat on the line demarcating the waters between the two countries.

Its personnel boarded the fishing boat and allegedly demanded RM10,000 from the taikong for its release. Fortunately, a Malaysian patrol boat in the vicinity received a call for help, sped to the scene and rescued the fishermen, he said.

Abdul Hadi said authorities in Indonesia have been informed about the incident.

New agency

He also said maritime safety and security is expected to be greatly enhanced when the National Maritime Agency - equivalent to the US Coastguard - comes into existence later this year.

It will be the primary agency for implementing all maritime-related laws and regulations as well as for search-and-rescue exercises.

The activities and assets of all agencies currently involved directly or indirectly with enforcement of maritime-related laws and regulations will come under the purview of this agency.

Abdul Hadi said the government has budgeted RM260 million to create the agency, mainly to acquire assets.

He added that slow-moving vessels and low-board vessels are most vulnerable to piracy attacks in the Straits of Malacca. Owners have been briefed on preventive measures and about the level of protection that is provided.

Such vessels form part of the growing number of feeder vessels that ply between Malaysian ports such as Port Klang, Pasir Gudang, Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Penang Port for ports in Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.