GOMBAK: The Defence Ministry will investigate claims of a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel anchoring off Miri.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin today said the navy and other agencies, such as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, conducted patrols in the country's waters.
"Usually, we observe whether they are anchoring there or just passing by because the waters of the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea allow for free passage under international law.
"(However), if they stop, then it affects our sovereignty," he said after attending the Gombak Umno meeting here.
Khaled was responding to a question over a report by a news portal that fishermen claimed that they were intimidated by the presence of CCG vessels in the South China Sea.
Miri Fishing Club secretary Vincent Lo was reported as saying that this was the case around Luconia Shoals (known locally as Beting Patinggi Ali), which Malaysia deems to be part of its exclusive economic zone off the coast of Sarawak but is patrolled by the CCG.
Previously, Khaled said the navy was carrying out around-the-clock operations in the Malaysian maritime area off the Straits of Malacca, South China Sea, Sulawesi Sea and Sulu Sea to detect if there were vessels or warships from other countries.