Efforts to free Msian-flagged fishing boats underway

KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry has started concerted and sustained efforts to secure the release of Malaysian-flagged fishing boats and their crew members who were detained by the Indonesian authorities.

In a statement, the ministry said Foreign Minister Anifah Aman had personally raised the matter with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno L.P. Marsudi, at the recently concluded Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Istanbul, Turkey.

“The Malaysian ambassador in Jakarta has been personally instructed to raise the matter with the relevant Indonesian agencies, including the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Maritime Affairs Ministry and Fisheries of the Indonesian Republic,” the statement said.

The ministry also confirmed news reports that a number of Malaysian fishing boats, including SLFA 4625, PKFB 1512 and KHF 1917, had been detained by the Indonesian authorities.

It added that the detention, which may have happened in Malaysian waters, is not consistent with the understanding reached between Malaysia and the Indonesian Republic in handling fishing-related incidents.

A meeting with representatives of Persatuan Kebajikan Nelayan dan Peniaga-Penaiga Ikan Sekinchan, Selangor, was also held in Putrajaya.

“The relevant Malaysian agencies, including the Department of Fisheries and the National Security Council, Prime Minister’s Department have also reached out to their counterparts in Indonesia,” it said, adding that the ministry would continue to undertake all possible steps to address this matter with the Indonesian authorities.

“We share the anxiety of the family members and the concern of the owners of the fishing boats,” it said.

– BERNAMA

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