ALOR GAJAH: The Melaka government is waiting for a report from the relevant maritime departments on the allegations of incidents in which local fishermen encroached into the waters of neighbouring Port Dickson, says Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh.
The Melaka Chief Minister said his administration had not received any form of notification from the relevant departments on the claims made by the fishing community in Negri Sembilan.
"I have to look into the report on the allegations and how these incidents happened and the parameters of the concerned fishing zones," he said after handing over financial assistance to 316 fishermen at Tanjung Bidara here on Monday (June 12).
Ab Rauf said the alleged incidents involve the fishing zones of two states and not a littoral border of two countries.
"It's inaccurate to call the incidents trespassing as the Melaka fishermen were still within the maritime borders of the country," he said.
Ab Rauf was asked to comment on the allegations made by fishermen from Port Dickson that the trespassing of fishing boats into their waters had impacted their catch and income.
These claims also prompted the chairman of the Fishing Development Board (LKIM) Mohd Faiz Fadzil to ask the relevant departments to act on the trespassing incidents.
Meanwhile, state rural development, agriculture and food security committee chairman Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said he has met with the relevant departments over the allegations in a bid to find a solution to the issue.
"There must be a clear guideline on the fishing zones outlined between the two states," he said.
