SUNGAI BESAR: Fisherman Chua Lee Teck, who was just released two days ago after spending almost four months incarcerated in Indonesia, cast his vote for the Sungai Besar by-election today.
The 46-year-old registered voter from Bagan Sekinchan arrived at the SK Seri Sekinchan polling centre at 10am.
Met after voting, Chua told reporters that he chose to vote the candidate who was close to his heart.
"I am returning the favour to those who had helped us," he told reporters.
Chua, together with fellow fisherman Heng Chi Yong, was detained by Indonesian authorities while fishing at the Straits of Malacca on March 3.
Chua and Heng were both sentenced to two years and four months jail for allegedly encroaching into Indonesian waters.
They were released on Thursday after their letters of pardon were signed by Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
The pardon followed efforts made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to secure the men’s release.
Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said today the government will resolve issues of alleged trespassing by fishermen with their Indonesian counterpart.
He said the discussions will be done at the highest levels.