Rokan Hilir Regent Bistaman is scheduled to go to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday or Monday to request for their release.

The Rokan Hilir regency administration had sent a letter to the Riau provincial administration to be forwarded to the Foreign Ministry, asking the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to help find a solution to the incident.

On Wednesday, Bistamam visited the Malaysian Consulate in provincial capital Pekanbaru and met Consul Muhammad Syah to discuss the arrests and secure their release, the regency administration said on its website.

The fishermen consist of a crew of two fishing vessels, KM. Kiang Uong No. 1058/PPF and KM. Willy Sukses 4 No. 877/PP.

Rokan Hilir Fishery Agency head M Amin said initial information over the detentions in the Malacca Straits had been acquired through social media posts, which were reported by other fishermen returning from the sea.

Amin then instructed the agency’s head of catch fishery to trace information and coordinate with local fisherman and the Rokan Hilir branch of the Indonesian Fishermen’s Association (HNSI).

“The reports turned out to be true, fishermen from Bagansiapiapi were arrested by Malaysia authorities on Nov. 11 at about 4 a.m. for allegedly crossing the [maritime] border,” Amin said on Thursday.

“Each ship has a skipper and a crew of four, and a total of 10 fishermen were arrested.”

He said the agency would continue collecting information over the coordinates of the site where the fisherman were arrested, to ensure whether they were in Indonesian waters or had already crossed the maritime border.

“But our current focus is to ensure the fishermen’s safety and repatriation,” Amin said.

“We are calling on fishermen to not fish near the [maritime] border for the time being to prevent similar incidents.”

Amin said the arrests had been reported to the Riau Maritime Affairs and Fishery Agency, as the management of sea areas were the jurisdiction of the provincial administration.

“We will continue coordinating, so the case can be resolved wisely according to the existing procedures and law, and ensure good bilateral relations,” he said.

He has met the fishermen’s families in Bagan Punak subdistrict in Bangko, and asked them to remain calm and be patient as the government resolves the issue. Amin also handed over basic food items and cash to the families.

“The assistance has been given by Rokan Hilir Regent Bistaman to shine a light on how the fishermen’s arrests in Malaysia would directly impact their families’ income and daily needs,” he said.

Bistaman said he has been concerned about the incident and emphasized the importance of protecting traditional fishermen who were fishing near the maritime border across from Malaysia’s Kuala Selangor.

Kuala Selangor is located approximately 140 kilometers at a heading of 20 degrees north-northeast of Bangko.

“I have instructed related agencies to coordinate with Foreign Ministry and law enforcement agencies such as Bakamla and the Indonesian Navy to ensure that our fishermen have their rights fulfilled, and that a solution is immediately found,” he said.

Meanwhile, chairman of Rokan Hilir branch of HNSI Jaswadi said that the Malaysian authorities seized both ships for crossing the maritime border.

“Actually, our crews entered the Malaysian waters not to catch fish but to retrieve fishing nets which were cut by ripples caused by a passing tanker,” he said.

“They indeed had crossed the [maritime] border, and then the Malaysian patrol boat towed them to Indah Island on the Malaysian side.”

Indah Island is located some 104 kilometers north-northeast from Bangko.

Jaswadi said communication with the detained fishermen had been limited, but they were being treated well and were in good health.

Siti Fatimah, the wife of one of the fishermen, Idul Kosim, hoped the crews could soon return home.

“We are not rich people, they are the breadwinners in our households,” she said.

“There is not much income from fishing, we rarely could save some money. If they are continued to be detained, I don’t know what we can eat.”

She said that the crew had been fishing for a long time. Once they go out to the sea, they will usually return after eight to 10 days.

“My husband has been a fisherman since he was young, but this is the first time he has been arrested by the Malaysian authorities.” (nvn)