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A national anti-piracy law is in the making to
improve enforcement in the country’s waters.
Currently there were no laws specific to piracy,
and pirates caught were charged under the Penal
Code, said Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency
head of northern region Laksamana Pertama
Zulkifli Abu Bakar.
“We will have to find something to charge them
with, such as robbery or possession of firearms.
“One weakness identified is the absence of a
national law on piracy,” he told reporters after
speaking at the Kuala Lumpur International
Conference on Piracy and Crimes at Sea.
Zulkifli said the Penal Code did not have
jurisdiction over cases that occurred beyond
Malaysia’s territorial waters, such as the
economic exclusive zones in the Straits of
Malacca.
Zulkifli, who hoped the anti-piracy laws would
impose heavier sentences against offenders, said
the Attorney-General’s Chambers was looking at
the possibility of drafting the Act.
He added there was also a plan to set up a
Maritime Crime Investigation Department to
combat piracy and all other maritime crimes.
National Security Council maritime security
policy undersecretary Abd Rahim Hussin agreed
that having a specific law on piracy would act
as a stronger deterrent, but said the legal
framework was unnecessary.
“In the region, only Thailand and Sri Lanka have
anti-piracy laws. It is sufficient to work with
(just) the Penal Code. We have adequate laws
here.
“Piracy happens on the high seas. In the Straits
of Malacca, it (piracy) happens in territorial
waters. So technically, it is not piracy but
robbery at sea. That will be charged under the
Penal Code,” he said.
On crimes that happen in the economic exclusive
zone, Rahim said the perpetrators could be
expedited back to their country of origin for
trial.
He said the authorities have not found any form
of organised piracy in the Straits of Malacca,
with most cases were perpetrated by “small gangs
operating in a loose form”.
“We have not traced any well organised gangs or
those linked to terrorist groups.
“They are also not high-tech or have
sophisticated weapons. Most are armed with
parangs and knives, and hardly any have
firearms,” he said.
Source: STAR MARITIME
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