Mafi to investigate claims on fishing vessels smuggling prostitutes, to revoke permit if true

PASIR PUTEH - Malaysian Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) will revoke the permit relating to the fishing industry or big fishing vessels for any involvement of smuggling prostitutes from Vietnam into the country, as claimed by reports.

Deputy Agriculture and Food Industries Minister II Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh said the ministry took the accusation seriously and would take immediate action against the perpetrators who were found guilty.

He said the ministry had asked authorities to investigate and prove the activities and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"If there is clear evidence, action should be taken quickly and bring them to the court whether it is the fishermen, skippers or even crews on the vessel.

"For the ministry, if we find that the vessels were used for smuggling prostitutes, we will not hesitate to cancel the permits and licenses relating to the vessel in the seafood industry," he said.

Nik Muhammad Zawawi said this during an interview at the launch of Pasir Puteh district level National Agenda of Healthy Malaysians at the open hall here, today.

Zawawi said as of now, the ministry had not received any official reports relating to vessels involved in the smuggling of prostitutes as what was spread in local newspapers yesterday.

He however said that the ministry would not compromise with such activities.

"The minister will work together with authorities and take immediate action towards this issue that if left unchecked would involve the issues of country, morals and religion.

"We want to educate the people to know the right and wrong way of making a living and awareness must be given to all and needs to be understood that there are multiple means of making a living," he said.

He said the issues needed to be investigated by the authorities before any actions could be taken.

"We have to investigate instead of accusing first. If it is true and they are guilty, actions can be taken towards them by the ministry and other agencies," he said.

The media on Wednesday had exposed a few vessels being involved in a fishing cartel not only sold subsidised oil illegally to other fishermen but also allegedly smuggled prostitutes from Vietnam.

The report quoted a source said to be a maritime officer who revealed the modus operandi of the fishing industry players.