Pulau ketam: The Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a boat carrying 48 passengers, exceeding the permitted capacity of 12, at about 0.4 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Ketam, near here yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Selangor MMEA director Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh stated the detention of the passenger boat was carried out after his department received a public complaint at around 1.55 pm about a boat carrying excess passengers at the Pulau Ketam passenger jetty.

Abdul Muhaimin said acting on the information, a MMEA patrol boat was deployed to the location and managed to detain the passenger boat shortly afterwards. An inspection revealed that the boat was operated by three local men, comprising a 63-year-old skipper and two crew members aged 33 and 59.

Further inspection found that the boat was carrying 48 passengers, exceeding the allowed limit of 12 as stipulated in the valid operating license. This is considered a serious offence due to the potential risk to life safety in the event of an emergency or an unwanted incident.

Abdul Muhaimin stated that the passenger boat with the three crew members was taken to the Pulau Indah Marine Police Jetty. It was handed over to the MMEA investigating officer for further investigation under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952.