KUALA LUMPUR: The authorities are conducting a special operation near Beting Hampasan Banting off the coast of Sarawak following the sighting of a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) vessel KM 'Marlin' has been deployed under Ops Khas Raja Laut from April 1 until 10 to monitor the movement of the Chinese vessel identified as 'CCG 5103'.
Khaled said 'CCG 5013' has been sailing in the area for 11 days from March 30.
"The sighting was made by a local fishing boat, which has been given permission to carry out fishing in the nearby area of Beting Raja Jarom from April 8 to 12 by the National Security Council (NSC)," he told the New Straits Times.
Khaled said this in response to a post on social media, where a group of Malaysians who were fishing near South Luconia Shoals were startled by the sudden appearance of the Chinese vessel, which sailed close to the Malaysian boat.
The post also claimed that the sighting of the CCG vessel was "proof" that China is strengthening its claims on the South China Sea's nine-dash-line, which includes part of Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and Sarawak waters.
Meanwhile, he said the Royal Malaysian Navy's offshore patrol vessel KD 'Kelantan' will take over patrol duties in the area from KM 'Marlin' from April 11 onwards.
He also said that sightings of CCG ships in the Satria ops area, which covers Beting Raja Jarom and Beting Hempasan Banting, have become common since the end of 2013.
"The Malaysian Armed Forces since then has been tasked to carry out Ops Satria in the area alternately with MMEA to monitor the movement of CCG vessels.
"The armed forces are continuously doing 24-hour operations, seven days a week to uphold security and sovereignty of the country.
"If there is encroachment, especially in areas of conflicting claims, there are rules of engagement so that things do not get out of hand."
Khaled also said that the ministry would also inform Wisma Putra on the matter when such matters occur so a protest note could be delivered to China.
