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NDONESIA: Malaysian authority has released four Indonesian fishermen from Johor Bahru prison after they were arrested Thursday for entering Malaysian waters illegally.

In a press release made available by the Foreign Ministry, it says that the four fishermen — Che Rin (51), Lau Tin Guan (58), Ee Ang (50) and Adi (35) — have returned to their hometown in Tanjung Balai Karimun Riau Islands province by ferry on Friday.

The four fishermen were taken into the custody of Malaysian maritime authority after their ship, which was not equipped with navigation equipment, sank in waters near Pisang Island, Malaysia.

The Indonesian consulate general in Johor Bahru said the four fishermen were in healthy condition.

Relations between Indonesia and Malaysia have been strained recently after Malaysian maritime police arrested three Indonesian Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Ministry’s officers in disputed waters.

The three officers were finally released but the arrest already sparked public outrage that turned into harsh demonstrations in front of the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta.— JP