<figure id="attachment_3217585" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3217585" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3217585 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/402e79fc-bot-nelayan-bernamapic-241125.webp" alt="bot nelayan" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3217585" class="wp-caption-text">The EAIC said its probe found that fisheries officers in multiple states failed to follow proper procedures in approving 54 fishing licences for two companies. (Bernama pic)</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: The fisheries department has cancelled 40 fishing vessel licences in Johor as part of a corrective action amid an ongoing investigation into irregularities in licence approvals.
It said in a statement today that the decision was made during the Special Technical Evaluation Meeting for Fishing Vessels in Zones C and C2 on July 7 and followed the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission&#8217;s (EAIC) recommendation to consider revoking licences obtained through irregular procedures.
Yesterday, the EAIC said it found that some officers at the department&#8217;s headquarters and in Johor, Kedah, Terengganu and Pahang failed to follow proper procedures in approving 54 fishing licences for two companies.
The findings will be referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for possible criminal investigation.
The EAIC had also advised the fisheries director-general to prepare specific guidelines for vessel modification applications exceeding 20% and to review the issuance of licences to ensure procedural compliance.
In its statement, the fisheries department said follow-up action targeting procedural violations and integrity lapses was under way.
&#8220;Investigation findings have been referred to the department&#8217;s disciplinary authority for further action against the officers involved.
&#8220;Disciplinary measures will be considered for officers found negligent, disobedient, or reckless in performing their duties in accordance with current regulations,&#8221; it said.
The department also confirmed that it was implementing all governance improvements recommended by the EAIC, including stricter vessel modification guidelines, better file management at state fisheries offices, limits on the number of licences per company, and upgrades to the e-Lesen system.
&#8220;All these measures aim to ensure that the fisheries licensing process is conducted with full integrity, transparency, and legal compliance, safeguarding the country’s fisheries industry and ensuring the sustainability of marine resources,&#8221; it said.

MatchPoint Times

Fisheries dept cancels 40 Johor vessel licences amid EAIC probe

It says the corrective action follows EAIC’s recommendation to review licences obtained through irregular procedures.

China launches Shenzhou-22 mission to Tiangong space station

Bantuan tunai RM500 untuk 750 keluarga terjejas banjir di Selangor