Instead of being outraged at Indonesia's move to sink illegal fishing boats, including Malaysian registered ones, Putrajaya should emulate the republic's resolve in defending its own fishermen, said Kuala Terengganu MP Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad.

 

Indonesia President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo who took office in October last year, had instructed illegal fishing boats encroaching into the republic's waters to be sunk in a bid to safeguard fish supplies for local fishermen.

 

"If President Jokowi who has been only in power for a few months can defend his country's fishermen in Indonesian waters with over 18,000 islands, why is the Malaysian government unable to do defend fishermen after 57 years in power?" said Raja Bahrin in a statement today.

 

Raja Bahrin ( left ) pointed out that Malaysia had been plagued by illegal fishing boats from Thailand and now Vietnam, which he said come with even bigger boats and are more aggressive.

 

He said the foreign fishermen use illegal and damaging fishing methods in Malaysian waters to the detriment of local fishermen.

 

Furthermore, he said big businessmen have also hired foreigners to commandeer big fishing boats capable of big hauls for quick profit.

 

"In fact, Vietnamese fishermen are free to enter and leave the Chedering Port in Terengganu without passports and even go shopping at Mydin and holding a football tournament at Chendering beach," he said.

 

Repeated complaints

He said despite repeated complaints in Parliament, the matter fell on deaf ears.

 

In contrast, he said, Jokowi ( right ) is firm in defending his country's fishermen.

 

He further pointed out that the Malaysian-registered boat seized by Indonesia and subsequently destroyed with dynamite, was manned by four Myanmar nationals.

 

Instead of protesting against the boat's destruction, which Raja Bahrin said likely belonged to a big businessman who hired the foreign workers, the government would do better to defend poor local fishermen.

 

"The Indonesian government defends its poor fishermen while the Malaysian government defend Myanmar nationals and wealthy corporate leaders.

 

"Who will look out for poor Malaysian fishermen?" he said.

 

He claimed the income of fishermen in Kemaman, Terengganu had only increased by  a meagre RM14 in the last 10 years, from RM400.

 

Raja Bahrin said it is time for Putrajaya to act against illegal fishing as well as Malaysian-registered boats using foreigners to fish.