Johor issues alert on piracy: Report

Johor issues alert on piracy: Report

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A Malaysian coastal state has warned fishermen not to wander too far into international waters where they may be easy prey for armed pirates, a newspaper reported yesterday.

After three instances of fishermen kidnapped by pirates for ransom, maritime security would be beefed up off the coast of Johor, said the southern state's chief minister Abdul Ghani Othman.

"Since the attacks took place in international waters beyond the 12-nautical-mile zone, we urge fishermen not to go too far to fish," he was quoted as saying by Star.

The kidnappings occurred once in April and twice in May when fishermen were taken to Indonesia. They had to pay up to 6,000 ringgit (US$1,500) ransom to the pirates. Abdul Ghani said Indonesia needed to step up measures to check piracy in the Straits of Malacca.