Indonesia Makes Efforts to Release 10 Fishermen Detained in Malaysia

The Rokan Hilir regency administration in Riau is making continuous efforts to secure the release of 10 fishermen detained by Malaysian authorities in the Malacca Straits on Nov. 5. Regent Bistaman is set to travel to Kuala Lumpur to seek their release either on Saturday or Monday. The regency administration sent a letter to the Riau provincial administration to be forwarded to the Foreign Ministry, asking for assistance from the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Bistamam visited the Malaysian Consulate in Pekanbaru to discuss the arrests with Consul Muhammad Syah, aiming to secure the release of the fishermen. The detained fishermen were crew members of two vessels, KM. Kiang Uong No. 1058/PPF and KM. Willy Sukses 4 No. 877/PP. Initial information about the detentions was acquired through social media posts, which were reported by other fishermen returning from the sea. The Rokan Hilir Fishery Agency is coordinating with local fishermen and the Indonesian Fishermen’s Association to gather more information about the incident. The agency confirmed that the fishermen were arrested by Malaysian authorities for allegedly crossing the maritime border. Efforts are being made to determine the precise location where the arrests took place to clarify if the fishermen were in Indonesian waters or had crossed the border. However, the immediate focus is on ensuring the safety and repatriation of the fishermen. Authorities are advising fishermen to avoid fishing near the border to prevent similar incidents from occurring. The Riau Maritime Affairs and Fishery Agency has been informed about the arrests, and efforts are being made to resolve the case diplomatically and in adherence to the law while maintaining good bilateral relations. Rokan Hilir Regent Bistaman personally met with the families of the detained fishermen to provide support and reassurance during this challenging time. Basic food items and financial assistance were provided to the families to help alleviate the impact of the fishermen’s detention on their livelihoods. The regent emphasized the importance of protecting traditional fishermen and securing their rights while operating near maritime borders to prevent such incidents in the future. HNSI chairman Jaswadi reported that the Malaysian authorities seized the ships due to a border-crossing incident. The crews had entered Malaysian waters to retrieve fishing nets damaged by passing tankers, leading to their interception. Communication with the detained fishermen has been limited, but reports indicate that they are being treated well and are in good health. Family members of the detained fishermen expressed concerns about their livelihoods and urged for their safe return. The wife of one fisherman mentioned the financial strain of the situation, highlighting the importance of their husbands’ roles as primary breadwinners in their households. The incident has underscored the risks traditional fishermen face while carrying out their work at sea.