Two fishermen, freed by the Indonesian authorities after they were allegedly caught for encroaching into their territories, seen in a boat near Bagan Sekinchan Jetty. — Bernama photo
SUNGAI BESAR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his in-law Datuk Seri Chairul Anhar also played an important role in helping to free the two fishermen from Sekinchan who were detained in Indonesia.
Ahmad Zahid said he had asked Chairul to meet with the president, vice-president, the ministers concerned, as well as the chief judge in Indonesia, to ensure the release of Chua Lee Teck and Heng Chee Yong.
“I would like to mention that the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Jamal Yunus and Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar were the four key persons behind the task to free Chua and Heng.
“But there is one more person whom I must mention today, so with great pleasure I would like to state that my in-law Bapak Chairul Anhar had helped us as well,” he said during the ceremony to hand over the letters of approval for hiring foreign workers for class B boat fishermen in Sekinchan yesterday.
Chairul, a businessman from Indonesia, is the president of the Indonesia Diaspora Network Chapter Malaysia.
His daughter married Ahmad Zahid’s son, in September last year.
Chua, 45 and Heng, 29, who were detained by Indonesian authorities for allegedly encroaching the waters of that country, have safely returned to their families here.
Both the fishermen from Bagan Sekinchan here, were detained in Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia since March 4, before being released as Indonesian President Joko Widodo had signed their pardons. — Bernama