Kuala lumpur: The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has recommended disciplinary action against officers of the Department of Fisheries (DOF) over violations of approval procedures involving the transfer of ownership, relocation, and modification of a trawler vessel in Johor.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the EAIC stated that a complaint was received alleging that five trawlers were approved without adhering to the government's Trawler Elimination Policy, prompting an investigation under subsection 27(4) of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009 [Act 700].

The investigation revealed procedural violations in the DOF's approval process for one of the five vessels under scrutiny. This included applications for transfer of ownership, relocation of base, and modifications. The statement emphasized that such violations could undermine the government's efforts to effectively enforce the Trawler Elimination Policy and potentially impact the management of the nation's fisheries resources.

Following the investigation, the EAIC forwarded its findings to the DOF Disciplinary Authority, recommending disciplinary action against the officers involved. This recommendation was made under Regulation 38 of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 [P.U.(A) 395/1993], citing disobedience of orders as outlined under Regulation 4(2)(i).