Fishermen, boat owners gather at Indonesian embassy to protest boat seizures

KUALA LUMPUR: Fishermen and boat owners have gathered at the Indonesian embassy here to hand over a memorandum protesting the seizure of Malaysian vessels by the Indonesian government.

The group said that the boats were seized in Malaysian waters or in disputed grey areas in the Straits of Melaka.

In the memorandum submitted on Tuesday (July 23), the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) and the Malaysia Fish Industries General Association said 23 vessels were seized by the Indonesian government since 2018.

They added that these seizures have led to losses of around RM10mil, and said that the boats were seized despite self-placed trackers confirming that the vessels were still in Malaysian waters.

It was also said in the memorandum that there also said that there were zones in the Straits of Melaka where Malaysian and Indonesian waters overlapped.

"For the time being, a warning telling the boats to go back would be sufficient. These seizures were done without any warning and the boats were towed to Indonesian waters," said KLSCAH secretary general Tan Soon Lim.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Hoi Seong Fish Wholesaler Association president Sing Kian Hock said that prices of fish had to go up by 21% as wholesalers had to import fish to meet the demand.

"We would rather have the fishermen have an easier time so that we can cut our prices," said Sing.