DETENTION OF BOATS IN PHILIPPINE WATERS WON'T AFFECT TIES

SANDAKAN (Malaysia), Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Ties between Malaysia and the
Philippines will not be affected by the detention of 14 trawler boats from this
country by the Philippine authorities recently for encroaching into the
territorial waters of the neighbouring country.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said bilateral ties between the two countries would
be improved to boost cooperation especially in tackling whatever issues that
arose.

"The incident on the detention of the Malaysian trawler boats with 50 crew
members who had encroached into the Philippine territorial waters will not
strain cordial relations between the two countries.

"We will continue to improve ties with the neighbouring country and will give
attention to the problems faced by local fishermen here," he said in his speech
at a dialogue session with members of the Sandakan Fishermen's Association, here
Friday.

The text of his speech was read by his Political Secretary, Norhaidi Che Dan.

Fourteen trawler boats with 50 crew members were detained in the Southern
Taganak Islands by the Philippine authorities for encroaching into the
territorial waters of that country on Feb 14 and 15.

All the trawler boats had been subsequently released by the Philippine
authorities in stages.

Anifah said the dialogue session Friday aimed at identifying the problems faced
by the fishermen in the district and to find suitable methods of resolving them.

-- BERNAMA