JOHOR BARU, July 26 — An Indonesian sailor was shot in the neck during a pirate attack on a ship at 2.5 nautical miles northwest of Teluk Ramunia, near Pengerang, Kota Tinggi last night.
Tanjung Sedili Maritime enforcement chief Captain Amran Daud said in the 10.40pm incident, a group of pirates boarded MT Jix Iang, which was registered in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.
However, they took flight towards Pulau Lima when they got wind of the presence of the maritime authorities, he said in a statement here today.
“A maritime patrol boat gave chase but lost them in the waters off a neighbouring country,” he said, adding that initial investigations revealed there were seven Indonesian pirates.
Amran said the injured sailor was warded at the Kota Tinggi Hospital.
In their haste to escape, the pirates left two pistols and a machete in the MT Jix Iang which was carrying 14 crew comprising seven Myanmars, a China national and six Indonesians.
Amran said since January, there were three attempts to rob ships plying in the vicinity of Pengerang.
Those with information on maritime criminal activities can contact the Southern Region Maritime Operations Centre at 07-2199519/ 07-22219231. — Bernama
