SABAK BERNAM: Malaysia will continue to pursue channels to bring home five local fishermen who are still being detained in separate Indonesian prisons for allegedly committing various fishing violations. This, despite promises by Indonesia that the five will be freed in time for them to return for the Chinese New Year celebrations last week.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he will highlight the matter in the next Cabinet meeting as it has been close to a week since the five fishermen were supposed to be released.
Last week saw the return of only one fisherman, Low Siang Huat, 59, from Pulau Ketam who was detained on Feb 16 last year after he was believed to have encroached into Indonesian waters.
The five who are still detained are Chia Kee Chan, 52 (Labuhan Deli Prison, Medan); Kamaruzaman Awi, 47 and Abdul Rashid Nik, 53 (Lanal Terempe, Riau); Mahabob Hasimat, 55 (Tanjung Pinang Prison); and Leong Biang Seng, 61 (Batam Prison).
Liow said the government was very concerned over the matter and would do all they can to facilitate the return of the five fishermen.
He said he understood the predicament and eagerness of the five families who have been anticipating the safe return of the fishermen for Chinese New Year.
“Their release was an agreement sealed between our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Indonesian president Joko Widodo for both countries to free fishermen who are being detained on each other’s shores.
“We have implemented (the necessary on) our part and Indonesia need to do theirs. I think there may be some hiccups but we are unsure of what it is. At the moment, we have not sent our Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister to discuss this with Indonesia.
“We will definitely pursue this by raising this in Cabinet and find another way (to bring them home). We are working on it. Give us some time and we will resolve this, the soonest possible. We are doing our level best,” said Liow today.
Late last week, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Bakar said Low was freed following an agreement between Najib and Joko at the 12th Malaysia-Indonesia Annual Leaders’ Consultation in Kuching, Sarawak last November.
Ismail said a meeting to negotiate the release was held between minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Indonesia’s Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti on Jan 11.
Ismail was quoted as saying that the Indonesian authorities had assured Malaysia that the five fishermen will be released in stages beginning this month.