Sabah (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has urged Malaysian authorities to ensure the safety of its fishermen, following the kidnapping of two Indonesian fishermen working for Malaysian employers in its waters close to the Philippines border.

Indonesias Consul General to Kota Kinabalu Akhmad DH Irfan issued a statement in this regard during a meeting with Malaysias Esscom officials in Kota Kinabalu, Monday.

Earlier on Saturday, two Indonesians working for a Malaysian were kidnapped by gunmen when they were fishing in Malaysian waters, some 2.5 nautical miles from Malaysia and the Philippines border.

The two Indonesians are La Utu bin La Raali and La Hadi bin La Adi, both from Buton district in Southeast Sulawesi.

There were six boats operating around the area when the incident happened. Other Indonesian fishermen managed to escape.

Irfan expressed his concern over the kidnappings, which have repeatedly occurred in Malaysian waters. "Kidnapping and robbery of Indonesian fishermen has occurred many times, but it seems that there was no preventive action from the Malaysian government."

Indonesias Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is expected to meet with the Sabah chief minister on Tuesday, after meeting with her Malaysian counterpart in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Reported by M Rusman
(S022/INE)
EDITED BY INE
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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