REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo reaffirmed his determination to protect Indonesia's maritime resources. Hence, he asked Minister of Finance Bambang Brodjonegoro to purchase many more patrol ships starting next year.

Jokowi also warned Minister of Maritime and Fishery Affairs Susi Pudjiastuti, Navy Chief of Staff Marsetio, Water Police and local heads to secure Indonesia's maritime resources.

"I am so disappointed to find out that every night there are hundreds of illegal vessels catching our fish but we only catch 30 of them. In fact, there should have been a lot more," Jokowi said on Monday, December 15.

Indonesia urgently needs new patrol ships as the current ships are not equipped with monitoring system. "We can easily monitor every ship entering Indonesian waters. Goverment will hold those vessels then sink them," Jokowi said as cited from setkab.go.id.

The president flexes his muscle to secure Indonesian maritime and culture as well as develop maritime industry. "We have to accompany and educate every fisherman. They cannot do that alone," he said.

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