It has been more than a month since three Malaysian-owned fishing vessels were detained near Batam, Indonesia, and family members of two Malaysians on board are demanding Wisma Putra’s assistance to ensure their well-being.

The three vessels from Sekinchan, Selangor, were detained by Indonesian authorities on March 3 for alleged illegal fishing.

Speaking on behalf of the families of the detained fishermen , Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos told Malaysiakini that so far, there has been no update from Wisma Putra on the investigations by the Indonesian marine authorities.

“Wisma Putra should be more pro-active in dealing with such incidents.

“We can raise funds to appoint lawyers for the the two fishermen involved but it is actually their (Wisma Putra’s) role to facilitate the process,” said Jamal, who yesterday met with Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno at the embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Jamal ( centre in photo ) was also accompanied by some 50 people, comprising local fishermen from Sekinchan and family members of the two currently held in Batam.

The three vessels - identified as KM SLFA 4625, KM KHF1917 and KM PKFB 1512 - were reportedly detained, along with 14 crew members.

Of the 14 arrested, two are Malaysian citizens and the remaining are three from Indonesia and nine from Myanmar.

During their meeting, Jamal once again presented a memorandum from fishermen in Sekinchan to the Indonesian ambassador, which among others, seeks a guarantee that the three boats now held in Batam will not be sunk.

“We are worried. We have read reports of Indonesian authorities sinking fishing boats detained for alleged illegal fishing.

“Our local fishermen could be victimised and it is our duty to defend them. I have personally gone out on a boat to the location where their (fishing) lines were cut - two-and-a-half-hours away from Sekinchan,” said Jamal, insisting that the three vessels had not trespassed into Indonesian waters.

Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim had previously told Malaysiakini that the average cost of a fishing boat from jetties under his constituency ranges from RM700,000 to RM1 million.

While acknowledging Indonesia's right to take action under its law, Ng said there are often disputes over whether the fishing vessels had actually crossed the border into Indonesian waters.

'About upholding Indonesian law'

Meanwhile, Jamal also claimed he had received complaints from other local fishermen of alleged incidents where Indonesian marine authorities had confronted them while out at sea, towed their boats to international waters, and demanded money in exchange for their release.

“These are bigger ships and we do not want them to be afraid to set sail to the middle of the ocean because then it would affect the smaller boats that normally remain closer to the coastlines,” he explained.

Aside from Wisma Putra, Jamal said more could be done by the Fisheries Department under the Agricultural and Agro-based Industries Ministry to resolve the issues affecting local fishermen.

In an immediate response, Herman confirmed receiving the memorandum from Jamal and gave his assurance that there has not been any information that the detained vessels would be sunk.

“These cases are about upholding Indonesian law. The embassy has once again suggested (to Jamal during the meeting) that the ship owners or the Malaysian Embassy (in Jakarta) should appoint lawyers and present their evidence, and alibis, on the ships’ exact positions (at the time of arrest).

“It was clarified (to Jamal) that the coordinates obtained by the Indonesian authorities showed the ships were located in Indonesian waters,” Herman told Malaysiakini .

Herman also said the Malaysian Consulate in Pekanbaru, Riau, had recently visited the two fishermen and they were found to be in good health.

“The Indonesian Embassy will regularly provide updates on the case to the secretary-general of the Sekinchan Fishermen Association,” he added.

However, it remains unclear when the cases will be tried in the Indonesian court.

Malaysiakini has contacted Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Zahrain Hashim and awaiting his response.