6 œ theSun | WEDNESDAY JUNE 3 2009

news without borders

‘They are stealing

Maritime agency working to business from Port Klang’
SOME private jetties in Klang
are allegedly “stealing“ business
source added.
“Through these jetties, illegal

rid Klang of illegal jetties

by Maria J.Dass and Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency (Maritim Malaysia)
is aware of the operations of illegal jetties
along the west coast of the peninsula,
especially in Klang.
The only thing standing between the
enforcement authorities and the local folk
are the syndicates and triads that operate
such jetties.
“We are now making aggressive ef-
forts to work with the local communities
in the vicinity of such jetties for informa-
tion for us to act,” said Maritim Malaysia
director general Datuk Amdan Kurish.
“Such jetties are the entry and exit
points of illegal immigrants and smug-
glers to ply their contraband, like ciga-
rettes and drugs. Obtaining information
from the locals is therefore crucial but
many are reluctant to cooperate for
fear of reprisals,” he said, adding “it’s
impractical to take preventive measures
all the time but we curb or restrict the
activities”.
Speaking to theSun on the sidelines of
a visit by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin to Maritim Malaysia
on Monday, Amdan said: “This is why we
are now meeting and working with the
coastal communities via various means.
This includes helping the communities in
any way, including being a part of their
gotong-royong programmes.
“We have to win their trust because
in the past, when we did not have the
opportunity to do so, the triads would
Amdan ... they are the entry and
exit points of illegal immigrants and
smugglers
move in and say ‘we control you’. Thus
it is very important for us to interact and
engage the local people.”
While the triads have tontos to look
out for enforcement agencies along the
coast, some locals have also been col-
laborating with them.
“These are among the challenges we
face in reaching out to the local com-
munities,” said Amdan, stressing that
Malaysians should cooperate with the
authorities instead of collaborating with
the underworld.
Amdan said the agency monitored
up to 200 nautical miles from the shore.
Other than piracy, the agency also looks
out for smuggling activities, illegal fishing
and environmental pollution.
He said in many instances the agency
also ended up carrying out search-and-
rescue work when boats carrying illegal
immigrants capsized.
The agency is equipped with 126 boats
and ships, three helicopters and one
aircraft. It is also trying to recruit about
800 personnel to expand the enforcement
manpower strength to 5,000 in the next
three years.
from Port Klang causing the gov-
ernment to lose millions of ringgit
due to ineffective monitoring and
abuse of private jetty licences.
A source told theSun there
were 20 private jetties in Klang
with some allegedly abusing
their licences to bring in
cargo that were supposed to
be cleared by Port Klang, like
steel plates, deformed bars,
containers, cement piling,
timber, plywood, cement,
new cars, and lorry chassis.
“Port Klang has been
losing cargo business to the
private jetties which are sup-
posed to handle the bulky and
dirty cargo like construction
materials. But such jetties are
known to cater for cargoes
that should otherwise be han-
dled by the ports (Westport,
Southport and Northport).
“About two million tonnes
of cargo are being illegally
handled by the private jet-
ties yearly and there is also
the Customs inspections
that could have been com-
promised,” said the industry
source.
“This must be stopped as
it is tantamount to sabotaging
of port businesses and also a
great loss of revenue to the
government.
“Enforcement must be
stepped up at such jetty facili-
ties which are also being used
for rampant smuggling and
under declaration of goods.
The Port Klang Authority (PKA)
needs to beef up its operations
and security and, if not stop, at
least curb such activities,” the
immigrants are also known to
come in freely. The Transport
Ministry and Selangor govern-
ment must not allow the jetties to
mushroom and operate illegally,”
the source wrote in his first letter
dated Feb 5 to the PKA.”
The source has also been
writing to Transport Minister
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Se-
langor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid
Ibrahim but only PKA responded
by saying it had, through the Pri-
vate Jetty Licence Management
Committee, acted against jetties
that failed to observe the laws.
In subsequent letters, the
PKA explained that a total of 20
private jetty licences were issued
for passengers and recreation,
repair dockyard, barter trade and
bulky and dirty cargo, within the
port zone.
The PKA also said for jetties
operating beyond the port zone,
their licences would be issued by
the Selangor Water Management
Board.
The source disclosed that
many did not dare to bring the
case to the authorities as they
feared that their personal safety
will be threatened.
The PKA had also met
Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC) deputy
chief commissioner Datuk Abu
Kassim Mohamed and discussed
the alleged activities. Information
is also believed to have been
passed on to the MACC.
The issue is also expected to
be raised in Parliament soon as
the DAP MP for Klang, Charles
Santiago, had also been informed
of the alleged activities.

No extra conditions please, Sidek tells civil servants

BANGI: Chief Secretary to
the government Tan Sri Mohd
Sidek Hassan has reminded all
government agencies involved
in processing applications not
to impose extra conditions that
would cause delays.
He added that every de-
partment and agency must
inculcate the culture of enforc-
ing monitoring control on the
implementation of work done
within their jurisdiction to
avoid any form of delay.
Existing rules and regula-
tions that are adequate must,
however, be enforced.
“Go to the ground to find
out the actual situation and
action must be taken against
those who are negligent or
careless so as to ensure it
won’t be repeated. However,
when enforcing policies or
regulations, we must be firm
in the implementation of such
procedures and also show fair-
ness and display a high level of
integrity,” he said after opening
a Convention on Enhancing
Integrity and Service Delivery
in the Civil Service here yes-
terday.
Sidek also urged civil serv-
ants to give priority to serving
the public, especially when
processing tenders.
If self interest precedes
public interest when providing
services, naturally there will
not be fairness and civil serv-
ants will fail to dispense their
duties with integrity. such a tender to ensure trans- such ideals.
“For example, when parency and fairness,” he said. “Countries like Switzerland,
processing a tender or price Such ideals would make Germany and Japan are always
quoted has our vested interest, Malaysia a recognisable coun- synonymous with product
may be our family members or try among countries like Japan, quality and efficiency and we
relatives, it will be wise for us Switzerland and Germany should follow them,” he added.
to withdraw from processing which are known to practice – Bernama
‘PSD scholarships awarded fairly’
PUTRAJAYA: The recipients of Public Services ers not wishing to work in the public sector on
Department (PSD) scholarships for study abroad the ground that the government salary scheme
were selected fairly from among qualified was not as competitive as the private sector’s,
students in the country, Chief Secretary to the had been excused.
Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said “Now, scholarship holders must realise they
yesterday. have to serve the government which had pro-
He said the government could not afford vided the funds for their education,” he said.
to offer the scholarship to every applicant as On complaints that bumiputras dominated
it was limited to 2,000 students, involving an the public service, Mohd Sidek said that although
allocation of RM740 million a year. the government wanted more non-bumiputras
Twenty percent of the awards were to serve as public officials, few applications
allocated to gifted students regardless of race, were received.
10% to students from Sabah and Sarawak (5% Several non-bumiputras who had received
each), 10% to the socially disadvantaged and PSD scholarships, too, wanted to be released
the rest to students according to racial com- from the contract because they were not inter-
position. ested in the salary scheme offered by the public
In a dialogue with media editors at his sector, he said.
office, Mohd Sidek said the government had Meanwhile, Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka
also decided that interviews for the scholarship Chew Mei Fun said yesterday that students
would be conducted by a three-member panel affected by a Universiti Sains Malaysia technical
comprising professionals such as doctors and glitch should be given an equal opportunity to
engineers and not an administrative officer or secure a place in another local public univer-
diplomat. sity.
One panellist will be a non-Malay, he said. Chew said students who had applied only
The monthly dialogue was meant to for a place at USM should also be given an
enhance cooperation and mutual understand- opportunity to secure a place in another uni-
ing between media and the PSD, in addition to versity if they fulfilled the enrolment criteria for
allowing news organisations to seek a clarifica- admission into other institutions.
tion of certain issues. She was commenting on a statement by
Mohd Sidek also said that to ensure PSD- Higher Education Department director-gen-
sponsored students join the civil service upon eral Datuk Prof Radin Umar Radin Sohadi that
graduation, the government had decided not to students who had applied only for a place at
entertain applications to be released from the USM, but not to the University Admission Unit,
scholarship contract. would not have the opportunity to enrol in other
Previously, he said, several scholarship hold- universities. – Bernama