Ahmad Zahid presents a replica of a cheque to Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia director Kuala Kangsar branch Rosnani Abdul Rahman (right) during the gathering. — Bernama photo
KUALA KANGSAR: Four more Malaysian fishermen arrested for alleged trespass in Indonesian waters were set to be released yesterday, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
These fishermen from Johor were expected to be freed along with the two fishermen from Sekinchan whose release was announced yesterday by Ahmad Zahid in Sungai Besar, Selangor.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo had authorised a pardon for the six fishermen.
The deputy prime minister spoke to reporters after addressing a gathering of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) in the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary constituency.
Ahmad Zahid had told a press conference in Sungai Besar on Tuesday that Sekinchan fishermen Chua Lee Teck, 45, and Heng Chee Yong, 29, would be released from Tanjung Balai, Indonesia, where they were being held.
He said yesterday it was hoped that the Automatic Identification System device to be made available by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry would help Malaysian fishermen determine their fishing zones.
“With the availability of AIS, we hope that our fishermen will not make any mistake and the device will pinpoint their exact location to show they had not trespassed,” he said. — Bernama