Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency officers boarding the boat in the waters off Teluk Ramunia in being briefed on the heritage room by Pengerang, Johor on Wednesday. (Inset) One of the song birds seized from the boat.
New Straits Times
Friday, Sep 28, 2012
JOHOR BARU - A boat carrying protected song birds worth about RM100,000 (S$39,964.17), was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in the waters off Teluk Ramunia in Pengerang, Johor on Wednesday.
The vessel was stopped by MMEA enforcement personnel at 11.25am and they found more than 150 protected white-rumped sharma (or commonly called burung murai batu) packed in plastic baskets.
MMEA southern region operation director, Maritime Captain Ibrahim Mohamed said a agency boat on routine patrol had spotted the boat which then sped off.
"We managed to stop the boat after a 10-minute chase at about 1.5 nautical miles south-east from Teluk Ramunia," he said yesterday.
On inspection, the agency's personnel found 16 plastic baskets filled with more than 150 protected song birds.
The white-rumped sharma is a protected bird species and it is an offence to be in possession without proper documentation.
The birds, which are prized as song birds in Malaysia, can fetch up to RM600 per bird depending on their size.
Ibrahim said investigations revealed that the boat from Pasir Gudang and en-route to Penggerang when it was intercepted by the MMEA patrol.
A local man, in his 40s, was detained. The suspect did not have any documents or permits for the birds.
He claimed that he was only told to deliver the birds to the location in Penggerang.
Ibrahim said the seized boat and suspect were sent to the Stulang Darat jetty. The case has been transferred to the Johor Baru Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for further action.
"The case is being investigated under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 for having in possession protected animals without a licence which carries a maximum penalty of up to RM50,000 or jail term or both," he said.
