RI tanker fined for pollution

RI tanker fined for pollution

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): An Indonesian oil tanker had been fined for causing the worst case of sea pollution in Malaysian waters so far this year, Malaysia's environment minister said yesterday.

The owners of the M.T. Permaisuri paid a fine of 150,000 ringgit (US$60,000) for leaving behind an oil patch of about 1,500 square meters in the Malaysian side of the narrow Strait of Malacca.

Science, Technology and Environment Minister Law Hieng Ding said the tanker was released on Saturday after the fine was paid, the Bernama news agency reported.

The vessel was detained two days ago off Port Dickson in southwestern Negeri Sembilan after a unit of the police air-wing saw it discharging oil.

Law described the oil discharge as the worst case of pollution in Malaysian waters so far this year.