"This is the issue I brought up during my recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, Kinabalu, and Sandakan in Malaysia," Retno said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi has sought attention from Malaysia and the Philippines, regarding the abduction of two Indonesian fishermen by a group of Filipino gunmen in Lahad Datu, Malaysia, on Saturday.
"I contacted the Malaysian foreign minister and the advisor of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday to discuss security issues and called for their attention related to the abduction," Retno remarked after meeting President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Presidential Palace here on Monday.
The minister asserted that the Indonesian government will not refrain from seeking attention from Malaysia and the Philippines regarding the kidnapping of the fishermen from Indonesia, allegedly committed by the Abu Sayyaf group.
"This is the issue I brought up during my recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, Kinabalu, and Sandakan in Malaysia," Retno said, adding that she had met the Indonesian ship crew members in these three regions.
The minister has expressed concern about the recurring incidents of Indonesian nationals being abducted in Malaysian waters.
She said her visit to Malaysia on November 7 was to express the Indonesian governments deep concern about the recurring incidents of abduction of Indonesians in the Malaysian territory.
Shortly after learning of the abduction of the two Indonesians in the Malaysian waters on November 5, Retno left for Malaysia to express concern at the turn of events and to discuss it with the Malaysian authorities.
She asked the Malaysian government to step up security in its territorial waters, as part of the efforts to prevent such incidents from occurring.
The minister informed that she had also met the owner of the fishing ship on which the two Indonesians were employed. She asked the owners of the other vessels to step up the security of its crew members.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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