8 Natuna Fishermen Who Enter The Capture Area Of Malaysia Sentenced To Free

Deputy Regent of Natuna Rodhial Huda (central), Commander of KN Tanjung Datuk 301 Colonel Bakamla Rudi Endratmoko (right)/DOK ANTARA

NATUNA - Natuna Regency Government (Pemkab), Riau Islands, collaborated with the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) in picking up fishermen from the area in Malaysia. Deputy Regent Natuna Rodhial Huda said his party would try to pick up Natuna fishermen who had been acquitted by Malaysia on charges of entering their capture area. The fishermen will be picked up using the Tanjung Datu State Ship (KN) owned by Bakamla. "The arrival of the Tanjung Datu KN commander (to the Natuna Regent's Office) is in order to coordinate the plan to pick up our fishermen in Malaysia," he said in Natuna, Monday, July 29. He said KN Tanjung Datu was already in Natuna waters and was waiting for administrative documents to carry out the pick-up process. "The ship is already on standby in Natuna, just waiting for the permit. Technical and pick-up date have not yet been determined because it is in the process stage," he said. However, he said, his party was trying to pick up directly to neighboring countries, because what they were picking up was not only fishermen but complete with three boats and tools belonging to the fisherman. "We are waiting for permits whether we pick them up at the Cat (Malaysia) or the border, but we hope to pick them up to the Cat because the fishing boat is also damaged," he added. Meanwhile, the Commander of KN Tanjung Datuk 301 Colonel Bakamla Rudi Endratmoko said the ship deployed was an asset of Bakamla RI. He said the process of picking up fishermen and fishing boats was planned to be transported by a ship belonging to Bakamla RI. "Our ship is ready to carry the three captured boats, later they will be loaded onto our ship," he said. Previously, eight fishermen from Natuna Regency, Riau Islands, who were arrested by Malaysian law enforcement in April 2024 were acquitted. Head of the Natuna District Fisheries Service, Hadi Suryanto, when contacted by telephone from Natuna, Wednesday, said that not only fishermen, evidence or pompongs could also be brought home by the fishermen.

"This morning (Wednesday, July 17) the results of the trial of fishermen's friends were acquitted (in Malaysia)," he said.