KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian enforcement agencies have seized 478 foreign fishing vessels over the past five years, with Vietnamese fishermen accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the encroachments.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that between 2020 and 2025, 331 Vietnamese vessels were detained, highlighting a significant and persistent threat to national waters.
He said enforcement is carried out through integrated operations between the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the Marine Police across the Malacca Straits and the South China Sea.
“Enforcement agencies conduct continuous, scheduled, and targeted patrols in intrusion hotspots. We are optimising the use of strategic sea and air assets to increase enforcement coverage,” he said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.
Saifuddin was responding to a question from Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN-Parit Buntar) regarding the government’s measures to tackle foreign fishing incursions that threaten the livelihood of local fishermen.
The minister noted that the MMEA deploys large-scale assets, including Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) such as KM Bendahara and KM Fatimag, for long-term patrols up to 200 nautical miles into the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Meanwhile, the marine police strategically station patrol boats in territorial waters and border areas to curb cross-border crimes and illegal entries.
Saifuddin added that enforcement is further bolstered by technology, including the Sea Surveillance System and the Automatic Identification System, to track suspicious movements and enable rapid interception.
“The marine police has also empowered its Marine Intelligence Unit to provide real-time data to sea patrol teams, ensuring more focused and effective preventive action,” he said.
The government also coordinates closely with the Fisheries Department through integrated operations such as Op Naga to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Regionally, Malaysia maintains bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines through joint patrols and intelligence sharing to safeguard regional maritime security.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
