REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, LANGKAT -- Five traditional fishermen from Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, were arrested in Penang Island by the Malaysian sea police while they were fishing using a five gross tonnage-capacity motorboat.
"We need support from the government to help secure their release," Chairman of the Langkat Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI) Tajruddin Hasibuan stated in Pangkalan Brandan on Wednesday.
The five arrested fishermen are Syafrizal, Erwin, Zulham, Hidayat, and Chairil and belong to the Kelantan village of West Brandan District.
Five of them were arrested on Saturday (Jan. 30) around 10:30 p.m. local time, while they were fishing at sea.
Their boat was suddenly intercepted by the maritime police of Malaysia and then towed to Penang Island using a ship bearing the number 3225.
Chairil, one of the arrested fishermen, then called his parents in Langkat and informed them of his arrest and detention in Penang Island, Malaysia.
The KNTI is hoping to receive assistance from the central government, including from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and also the provincial government of North Sumatra and the Langkat regent, to immediately release the fishermen.
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