“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid,” he said briefly when asked by reporters about the vessel, which has caused concern among local fishermen.

He said this after launching the National Security Month 2024 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre today.

Also present were home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, defence minister Khaled Nordin, digital minister Gobind Singh Deo, and national security director-general Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin.

According to reports, fishermen felt intimidated by the ship’s presence, which made it difficult for them to carry out their activities.

Beting Patinggi Ali is located 84 nautical miles (155km) from the coast of Miri, Sarawak, and is within Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone.

The defence ministry previously said that the navy continuously monitors six of Malaysia’s maritime areas, including the Straits of Malacca, South China Sea, Sulawesi Sea and Sulu Sea, to detect suspicious vessels and foreign warships.