Media statement by Dr. Hiew King Cheu in Kota Kinabalu on Tuesday, 19^th April 2011:

Vietnamese fishing boats operating in Sabah water

I received complaints from local fishing boat and trawlers owners in Sabah concerning the many fishing boats and trawlers coming from Vietnam. It is estimated that there are some 100 Vietnamese big and small fishing boats operating in our waters.

The complaint received basically focusing on why these many fishing boats are allowed to operate in the Sabah water and catching our fish. It is believed that many of the good quality fishes are being caught in the Malaysian water and then transferred to foreign ships waiting in the International open sea and later quietly shipped out of Malaysia. The fishing boats usually come back to our shores with the low grade fishes and sold to our local fishmongers and fish markets.

They were seen even catching many of our precious protected sea turtles which were transported to sell at a high price overseas. Some of these fishing boats were caught by the marine police and the Fisheries Department enforcement, and some of the sea turtles were saved and released back to the sea, but very unfortunately many had died due to bad handling. It is true that many had been shipped away already.

On top of that, the foreign boats are using foreign workers who do not have work pass and not paying any levy to the authorities. The boats are using our subsidized fuel and enjoying the benefits.

The people told me that these foreign boats are operating on our local fishing boat licenses issued by the Sabah Fisheries Department.

I urge the Sabah Fisheries Department with its Enforcement unit and the Licensing unit to take particular attention towards this complaint. This is seriously affecting our fishermen and their lively-hood. The Marine Police and even our Navy should be more alert to petrol our water and stop all the illegal fishing in our water.

The question is, why allow our local fishing licenses to be used by foreigners. Is this in bleach of the terms and conditions of the licenses being granted? The interest of the local fishing industries must be protected and our precious sea lives must be safe guarded at all cost. Those who had abused the fishing licenses issued to them should have their licenses cancelled and punished heavily. We want an explanation from the authorities why these happened.

* Dr Hiew King Cheu, MP for Kota Kinabalu