Malaysia-Indonesia Agree To Enforce SOP On Handling Fishermen's Problems

Ahmad Fuad Yahya NUSA DUA (BALI), Nov 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to implement a standard operating procedure (SOP) in the handling of fishermen found catching fish in the border areas which are disputed by both countries. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said the SOP, which would be based on the principle of equal treatment would be enforced from Jan 1, 2012. "We will assign certain groups to discuss the matter as soon as possible so that the problems faced by fishermen, which should not have cropped up, could be avoided in future," he said at a press conference, here Wednesday night. He was referring to the problem of the detention of fishermen by the authorities of both countries for allegedly encroaching into the territorial waters of the neighbouring country, whereas the area concerned was still under dispute. The agreement on the implementation of the SOP was reached at the Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral meeting between Najib and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and their respective delegations, held here Wednesday night, on the sidelines of the 19th Asean Summit to be held Thursday. Najib said there was a possibility that officers from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry would meet with their counterparts from Indonesia to determine a suitable SOP for implementation by both parties in handling the problems faced by fishermen. "We understand that fishermen are not a wealthy lot, and they depend on their sources of income in the form of their boats and fishing equipment. If we take stern action against them, this would bring about a disaster to the fishermen of both countries," he said. He said the details on the SOP would be discussed together in the spirit of reaching a solution that would not burden the fishermen. The implementation of the SOP would not involve any amendment to the law, he added. -- BERNAMA