8 Indonesian Fishermen Arrested By Malaysia After Entering Sarawak Waters

Illustration - Fishing boat caught. (ANTARA/Muhamad Nurman)

NATUNA - Fisherman from Natuna Regency, Riau Islands (Kepri), was again arrested by the Malaysian Maritime Authority Agency (APMM). Head of the Fisheries Service of Natuna Regency, Hadi Suryanto, said that a number of fishermen were suspected of being arrested for entering the waters of Sarawak, Malaysia. "Companies of fishermen were arrested on Saturday (17/8)," he said when contacted by telephone from Natuna, Antara, Monday, August 19. According to the information he got, a total of eight fishermen were arrested. Of these, three people came from Tarempa, Anambas Islands Regency. "From Natuna there are about five people, the rest are Tarempa fishermen," he said. The eight fishermen used two pompong units and are currently still in Malaysia. A similar incident occurred in April 2024, and fishermen returned to their homeland in the second week of August 2024 because they were acquitted after attending several trials. "There were two ships (captured), one from Natuna, another from Tarempa. From Natuna, it is estimated that five people were brought from Natuna," he said. He said his party had tried to prevent the same thing from happening by providing socialization and appeals. "We have tried so that this does not happen again," he said. In previous reports, the Natuna Regency Government (Pemkab), Riau Islands, together with the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) picked up eight fishermen in Indonesia-Malaysia border waters, after being acquitted by the neighboring state court.

Head of the Fisheries Service of Natuna Regency Hadi Suryanto in Natuna, Saturday, said the fisherman was escorted by Malaysian authorities to the waters of Tanjung Datu on Saturday morning and picked up by the Tanjung Datu 301 State Ship (KN) belonging to Bakamla RI.