File photo of a Maritime and Security Agency high-speed craft travelling in the waters of Tanjung Uncang in Batam, Riau Islands - Kompas
JAKARTA: Two fishermen from Batam, Riau Islands province, have been repatriated after being detained for a week by Malaysian authorities for trespassing into the country’s maritime territory.
Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) personnel aboard KN Dana 232 retrieved the two 25-year-old fishermen, Salam and Suhardi, in the waters near the Indonesia-Malaysia border on Wednesday (March 19).
The repatriation process was overseen by the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru, alongside officials from the Riau Islands Border Management Agency.
In addition to Salam and Suhardi, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) handed over the fishermen’s 30 gross tonne wooden boat to Indonesian authorities.
Suhardi said an APMM patrol ship had detained him and Salam on March 13 while they were fishing, stating that they had crossed into Malaysian waters.
"The Malaysian authorities treated us well, but now we just want to go home and reunite with our families," he said.
Bakamla Western Maritime Zone commander Cdre. Bambang Trijanto said both fishermen had completed the repatriation process in accordance with Malaysian law.
"They were found to have accidentally entered Malaysian waters because of ocean currents and winds. Malaysian authorities also discovered that their boat only contained a few fish, so they decided to deport them to Indonesia immediately," Bambang said.
Salam, Suhardi and their wooden boat arrived at Batu Ampar Port on Batam Island on Wednesday, where they were greeted by Riau Islands Deputy Governor Nyanyang Haris Pratamura. Riau Islands authorities announced they would escort both fishermen to their families and provide them with financial assistance.
The waters surrounding the Riau Islands have been the site of numerous incidents of maritime trespass and related detentions involving fishers from both Indonesia and neighbouring countries.
In April of last year Malaysian authorities detained 14 crew members of KM Surya Indah 10, a fishing vessel from Bintan regency, which allegedly trespassed into Malaysian waters.
Three months later, three fishermen aboard KM Bintang Jaya 9 from Lingga regency were arrested when their vessel drifted into Malaysian waters during an engine malfunction, according to the crew’s account. A local court acquitted 16 of the detained fishers of all charges.
But the captain of KM Surya Indah 10 was found guilty of trespassing into Malaysian waters and was ordered to pay a fine of one million ringgit (US$214,000) or serve five months in prison. Indonesia repatriated the 16 acquitted fishermen on July 11, some of whom had been detained as long as two months.
Halim, 53, a fisherman from Lingga, said he was traumatized by the incident, which had occurred in Malaysian waters off Batu Puteh Island.
“Suddenly, armed personnel approached us and shoved us toward the bow,” Halim said, recounting his capture by Malaysian authorities.
Doli Boniara Siregar, head of the Riau Islands Border Management Agency, said traditional fishermen from the province often unknowingly entered Malaysian or Singaporean waters because of their limited understanding of the neighbouring countries' borders.
"Although we have provided education, maps and GPS devices, it’s still not enough to prevent them from crossing into neighbouring waters, as the borders are merely imaginary lines,” he said.
Doli said that each year a number of fishermen from Riau Islands province were apprehended by authorities from neighbouring countries. In 2023, 13 fishermen from the Riau Islands were arrested by Malaysian authorities. The number increased to 31 the following year.
Since the start of this year, three local fishermen have been detained and deported by Malaysia. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
