TAWAU, 3 JANUARY, 2012: Foreign boats from Pulau Sebatik should not be allowed to land in Tawau to prevent violation of the law, says Sebatik state assemblyman Abdul Muis Picho.

This is necessary as many foreign boats land at Batu-Batu, an area reserved for Malaysian boats on Pulau Sebatik.
   
"Many people of Pulau Sebatik (Malaysian territory) complained about the influx of foreign boats.
   
"This caused much inconvenience to passengers and boat operators," he said in a statement here today.
   
Muis said foreign boats should only be allowed to anchor, take or drop off passengers at other areas designated by authorities.
   
He urged authorities to consider the proposal to control the movement of passengers and goods thus ensuring that laws are not violated.
   
Meanwhile, a resident of Pulau Sebatik said he had to wait one hour yesterday before the boat could land at Batu-Batu as it was congested with foreign boats.
   
"I had to wait from 9am to 10am. A lot of time was wasted," said the resident who declined to be named.
   
He hopes that authorities solve this problem by having separate landing areas for local and foreign boats for the comfort of passengers.
   

- Bernama