M’sia, Indonesia commit to create friendly fishing waters

JAKARTA – Malaysia and Indonesia are committed to creating ideal and friendly waters for fishermen and communities on the coasts of both countries.

The decision was recently reached in a virtual meeting between the Malaysian National Security Council (NSC) and the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency.

The agency’s information, legislation and cooperation deputy Samuel H. Kowaas said the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on common guidelines and common best practices can bring prosperity to the fishermen of both countries.

In addition to improving good bilateral cooperation, the meeting also increased the conduciveness of activities related to the handling of unresolved maritime boundary incidents in their respective waters.

“The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency is aware of the importance of improving communication and coordination of law enforcement officials in both countries,” he said in a statement.

Malaysia and Indonesia signed the “MoU In Respect of the Common Guidelines Concerning the Treatment of Fishermen by Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies of Malaysia and the Republic of Indonesia” on January 27, 2012.

The two countries agreed only to deport and not arrest fishermen found fishing in the Malaysia-Indonesia maritime border. – Bernama, December 27, 2022