Security gaps muddy waters for Malaysia’s blue economy ambitions

AI Summary

Malaysia’s ambitions for developing the blue economy face challenges due to security gaps allowing foreign trawlers to illegally fish in waters off Terengganu. These incursions, occurring near Pulau Redang and Pulau Bidong, threaten local fishermen and highlight cross-border maritime security issues in the South China Sea.

Foreign trawlers slip into waters off the Malaysian state of Terengganu under cover of darkness, local fishermen say, working near Pulau Redang and Pulau Bidong before leaving by dawn to avoid detection. The incursions have become a recurring problem for fishermen along the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, where the South China Sea separates Malaysia from Vietnam by just hundreds of kilometres. Alias Yahya, who sits on the board of the Terengganu fishermen’s group Penentu, said members had...