Ferries subjected to bribes: Body<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nine ferries from Batam and Tanjungpinang, Riau,
\nwere allowed to dock at Pasir Gudang's international harbor in
\nMalaysia, after paying bribes to the port officer in Johor Bahru,
\nchairman of the Batam-based Association of Indonesian Ship
\nOwners, said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
H.Z. Amura, chairman of the organization, told Antara in Batam
\nthat the ferries were able to sail in Malaysian water after the
\nowners had approached the port's officers and paid them
\n\"cigarette money.\"<\/p>\n
The nine ferries were among 43 ships from Riau that were
\nbanned by Malaysia as they had not passed the requirements set by
\nthe International Maritime Organization (IMO).<\/p>\n
Malaysia asked the ferries to comply with 26 detailed
\nrequirements, such as providing certain types of buoys and
\ninformation on stability and control of sea pollution.<\/p>\n
Ships made of fiber glass were also not allowed to dock in
\nMalaysian waters because they were prone to fire.<\/p>\n
Separately, the head of the Shipping and Maritime Directorate
\nat the Ministry of Transportation, Sahid, admitted that the
\nferries had obtained certificates from the ministry even though
\nthey had not met IMO requirements. He said that the ministry
\ngranted them the certificates without checking the ferries
\nproperly. He also asked Antara not to pursue the issue any
\nfurther.<\/p>\n
Amura admitted that owners of the ferries had bribed officials
\nat the Ministry of Transportation in order to receive the
\ncertificates. He said that he did not really know how much they
\npaid as bribes, but he said it was quite a lot.<\/p>\n
\"For a small ferry, the bribe was at least Rp 1 million,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Amura said that owners of the ferries had promised to comply
\nwith IMO requirements within one month. (sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ferries-subjected-to-bribes-body-1447893297",
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