According to The Star news outlet, the MMEA intercepted the vessels at two different locations east of Johor state in the peninsular part of the country.
Six captains and 54 crewmen, all Chinese nationals between the ages of 31 and 60 were taken in for trespassing sovereign territorial waters without prior notification or valid permits, The Star reported.
The vessels, registered in Qinhuangdao port of China, may be subject to fines of up to 6 million Malay ringgit (approximately $1.5 million) per boat and 600,000 ringgit per crew member.