Review MOU with Indonesia on detention of fishermen
SERDANG: The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Malaysia and Indonesia on issues related to detention of fishermen in their respective countries for fishing in disputed waters, needs to be reviewed.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the agreement that involved the National Security Council (NSC) and the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) of Indonesia, should be reviewed because the agency was carrying out different functions.
This has led to the detained fishermen being referred to certain ministries in each country such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry if the case occurred in Malaysia.
“We need to negotiate with Indonesia to update this agreement because we already have the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which has the same functions as Bakamla in Indonesia.
“I will scrutinise these matters to determine which party should be responsible for matters related to the detention of fishermen and who can be consulted to resolve the problem,” he said at a press conference after a monthly gathering and iftar at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEP) here last night.
Besides 50 orphans, also feted at the ceremony were the five fishermen from Pontian, who were released by the Indonesian authorities on May 24 and June 16 after being detained on May 5.
– BERNAMA
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