Ships detained for dumping wastes

Ships detained for dumping wastes

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia has detained two ships for discharging toxic wastes and polluting its seas, the environment minister said yesterday.

The Samudera Teknik was detained off Tanjung Piai in southern Johore state on Monday while the Caraka Jaya Niaga III-32 was held at a port in the eastern Sabah state at the weekend, said Law Hieng Ding, minister of Science, Technology and Environment.

"The Department of Environment is still carrying out investigations on the owners of the ships and where they were registered," Law was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Officials said the Malaysian government was cracking down on shipowners found dislodging oil and toxic wastes into its seas as the number of such cases seemed to be on the rise.