Prof Omar says the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem of ships illegally anchored in Malaysian waters.
MALAYSIA can use existing laws to tackle the issue of vessels illegally anchored in its waters, says an expert.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Marine Technology Centre research fellow Prof Omar Yaakob said the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 as well as the Environmental Quality Act 1974 could be used if a ship was found polluting Malaysian waters.
However, he said Malaysia should strengthen its capacity of related agencies to stamp out the problem.
“The focus should be on empowering our maritime agencies to carry out enforcement, ” he added.