MMEA DETAINS FIVE TANKERS OFF PENGERANG

JOHOR BAHARU (Malaysia), Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained five foreign tankers for allegedly entering
Malaysian waters without permission and conducting illegal cleaning of the
vessels near Pengerang in southern state of Johor.

Its enforcement chief, First Admiral (Maritime) Che Hassan Jusoh said the
tankers and the crew, totalling 24 and comprising 20 Indonesian and two Indian
nationals, were detained at about 10.30am on Sunday at 3.8 nautical miles
south-east of Tanjung Stapa.

Checks carried out on one of the tankers, Jakarta-registered M.T Suwito,
found 16 bags of sludge on board, he told reporters here today.

He said the other four tankers- M.T Atago and Antago Power, both registered
in San Lorenzo; Her Chang, which is registered in La Paz and Eastern Hill, which
did not posses any documents- were believed to have not informed the Malaysian
authorities on their arrival.

Che Hassan said the five tankers were detained after two others, M.T Jet and
Panama-registered M.T Rahmah 1, were detained on suspicion of conducting illegal
siphoning of oil.
-- BERNAMA