Ferries subjected to bribes: Body

JAKARTA (JP): Nine ferries from Batam and Tanjungpinang, Riau, were allowed to dock at Pasir Gudang's international harbor in Malaysia, after paying bribes to the port officer in Johor Bahru, chairman of the Batam-based Association of Indonesian Ship Owners, said on Sunday.

H.Z. Amura, chairman of the organization, told Antara in Batam that the ferries were able to sail in Malaysian water after the owners had approached the port's officers and paid them "cigarette money."

The nine ferries were among 43 ships from Riau that were banned by Malaysia as they had not passed the requirements set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Malaysia asked the ferries to comply with 26 detailed requirements, such as providing certain types of buoys and information on stability and control of sea pollution.

Ships made of fiber glass were also not allowed to dock in Malaysian waters because they were prone to fire.

Separately, the head of the Shipping and Maritime Directorate at the Ministry of Transportation, Sahid, admitted that the ferries had obtained certificates from the ministry even though they had not met IMO requirements. He said that the ministry granted them the certificates without checking the ferries properly. He also asked Antara not to pursue the issue any further.

Amura admitted that owners of the ferries had bribed officials at the Ministry of Transportation in order to receive the certificates. He said that he did not really know how much they paid as bribes, but he said it was quite a lot.

"For a small ferry, the bribe was at least Rp 1 million," he said.

Amura said that owners of the ferries had promised to comply with IMO requirements within one month. (sim)