Malaysia, Indonesia in talks to release fishing boat
Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman says Putrajaya has sufficient evidence to show the boat did not encroach into Indonesian waters.
KUANTAN: Wisma Putra is discussing with its Indonesian counterparts for the release of a fishing boat detained by the republic’s authorities yesterday, said Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman.
He said they had sufficient evidence to show that the boat did not encroach into Indonesian waters and was instead in overlapping waters between the two countries.
“According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2012, both parties have no right to make any arrests in the area.
“Nevertheless, an arrest was made even though there was no encroachment or violation of the law.
“We are in communication with them to resolve the matter and ensure such incidents don’t recur,” he told a press conference here today.
Azis had earlier officiated the 14th-anniversary celebration of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
Present were the ministry’s secretary-general, Alwi Ibrahim, and MMEA director-general Admiral Maritime Zulkifli Abu Bakar.
Yesterday, MMEA issued a statement saying a local fishing boat from Perak, was still in Malaysian waters at Pulau Talang, Perak, when it was taken into Indonesian waters to Medan.
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MMEA said the four crew members, comprising a Thai and three Cambodians, had been rescued.