Four Of The 6 Bintan Fishermen Released By The Malaysian Government

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

BINTANG - Four of the six traditional fishermen from Bintan Regency, Riau Islands were released by the Malaysian government because they were not proven guilty when they entered the area.

Head of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service of the Riau Islands, Tengku Said Arif Fadillah, said two of the four fishermen who had been released were already in Batam. They are Sandi and Andi.

"Currently, Sandi and Andi are following an integrated quarantine at the Shelter of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency in Batam," said the former Secretary of the Riau Islands, quoted by Antara, Friday, August 6.

Meanwhile, two other fishermen released by the Malaysian government tested positive for COVID-19. They have not been able to return to the country via Batam because they are undergoing an integrated quarantine in Johor Bahru.

"For two fishermen from Bintan who are still detained in Malaysia, it is rather difficult to release them. However, the Indonesian government through the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor is trying to make the sentences lighter," he said.

Arif confirmed that four of the fishermen from Bintan were successfully released from prison in Malaysia after the Riau Islands Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service requested assistance from the central government. Intensive negotiations were also carried out by the Consulate General in Johor Bahru.

The role of the Bintan Regency Government is also quite large in solving this problem.

"We appreciate all those who worked hard to release four of the six traditional Bintan fishermen," he said.

Arif said six traditional fishermen from Bintan were arrested by Malaysian officials for entering the country's territory. The fisherman had no intention of catching fish in Malaysian waters, but the boat he was using was swept away by the waves.

The condition of the ship's engine that died caused the fishermen to be swayed to enter Malaysia. When caught, there were quite a lot of fish in the boat.

"Our fishermen have absolutely no intention of entering Malaysian territory, because they know it is wrong. But the condition of the ship and the weather have dragged them into the country's waters," he said.