KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy successfully thwarted an attempt by 12 foreign fishing boats to intrude into Malaysian waters near Pulau Perak in Kedah on Wednesday (March 16) evening.

       It said in a statement that the speedy flow of information through the West Maritime Component Commander led to KD Keris being deployed to the southeast of Pulau Perak at 5 pm.

       "KD Keris chased away five foreign fishing boats while the other seven are believed to have left the national waters after realising the presence of the national maritime defence asset,” said the Navy in the statement.

       It added that a Royal Malaysian Air Force Beechcraft B200T aircraft detected the presence of 12 foreign fishing boats about 71 and 57 nautical miles southeast of Pulau Perak. - Bernama