The Federal Government does not discount the possibility that an “inside man” was involved in the disappearance of the MT Orkim Harmony, an oil tanker carrying 22 crew members and 7.5 million litres of RON95 petrol last Thursday.
Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Berita Harian that Malaysian authorities’ suspicion that subterfuge played a part in the ship’s disappearance was based on the fact that the Orkim Harmony’s routes and cargo manifest were known only by those directly involved in its operations.
“The route and location of the ship at any one time, as well as the nature of its cargo, could not have been known by anyone other than those directly involved. This is based on my prior experience as Defence Minister,” said Zahid.
“This matter (of possible inside involvement) will be investigated by the police.”
The last known location of the ship was 17 nautical miles (31.5 km) off Pulau Aur, near Mersing, Johor, at 8.45pm last Thursday.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deputy director-general Mohd Puzi Abdul Kahar told The Star Online‘s Jastin Ahmad Tarmizi that there is a possibility that the Orkim Harmony could now be in the Natuna and Anambas Islands off the coast of Indonesia.
“Based on the speed it was going, as of now it would be in Vietnam waters if it was going north. If it was going east, it would be in Kota Kinabalu waters this afternoon.
“But until now, we have not been able to track the tanker in Sabah or Sarawak waters so there is a big possibility it is still in the South China Sea and in nearby areas,” he said.
Ahmad Puzi stated that his agency believed the ship’s disappearance was a case of maritime piracy.
Photo: Bernama
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