South China Sea sees piracy rise

Several ships have been hijacked in the high seas off Malaysia this year

South China Sea, Strait of Malacca see rise in piracy

Several ships have been hijacked in the high seas off Malaysia this year; smaller vessels are also at risk.

By Grace Chen for Khabar Southeast Asia in Kuala Lumpur

Pirates have recently targeted large commercial ships sailing on both sides of the Malaysian Peninsula, but local small boat operators say their vessels are also vulnerable to crime.

Most cases reported to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) involve tankers and cargo ships. Many others – attacks on fishing boats, leisure boats and the like – go unreported, said Robert Hernandez, 53, a commercial diver based in Kajang, in Selangor state.

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Source: khabarsoutheastasia.com