About 40 foreign sand dredgers and barges moored off Santubong from last October to April this year were asked to leave under the cabotage policy.

These foreign sand dredgers and sand carriers were from two neighbouring countries.

“They had to leave because of the cabotage policy. Without the cabotage policy, they may stay as long as they want,” said Yong Ing Huong, chairman of the Sand and Gravel Working Committee, a sub-committee under the big umbrella of Sarawak Sabah Shipowners Association (SSSA).

He said local shipowners took notice of the presence of these foreign vessels when passing by and had witnessed these vessels overstaying.

“Under the cabotage policy, these vessels can only dock for three months.  If they want to stay longer, they will have to apply for a new permit.”

He said residents at Santubong also noted their presence  especially when the foreign crews on board the foreign vessels landed and created trouble at the coastal villages.

“The sailors of these vessels came on land to go to nearby villages to steal the vegetables and chickens from the farms of the locals. Their presence had become a threat to the local villagers.

“The complaints from the villagers was one of the reasons why these foreign vessels were asked to leave,” said Yong.

Yong cautioned that without the cabotage policy, the state would have no right to ask these foreign vessels to leave the state.

“We were curious about the presence of these foreign vessels and we were also worried about their presence. We felt much better after they had left. I believe the same feeling was shared by the local villagers.

“In mulling over abolishing the cabotage policy, we would like to ask the government to look into the case of these 40 foreign vessels.”

He said even though these foreign vessels had left, the government could look into  the matter by checking with the local villagers who were affected and law enforcement agencies.

“At the moment, what these foreign sailors did was just stealing.  However, the fact showed that the security of our state was breached.  There is every possibility for anything to happen if the cabotage policy is abolished as these foreign sailors can stay as long as they want,” said Ting.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Lian Cheng

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