According to a written statement from the Socio-cultural Information (Pensosbud) section of the Indonesian Consulate received here on Friday, the three crew members from Buru Island, Karimun District, Riau Islands Province—Ahmad, Haryanto, and Muhammad Faizal—were repatriated along with their ship, KM Tambisan Agensi, on Thursday, June 26.
The three crew members, who are traders of basic necessities, were arrested on May 26, 2025, by the APMM Johor for inadvertently entering Malaysian waters without permission.
After undergoing 11 days of investigation, the Malaysian authorities found no element of intent. On June 5, 2025, they were transferred to the Temporary Shelter (TSS) of the KJRI Johor Bahru to await the repatriation process.
On Thursday, June 26, the three crew members and their ship were handed over by Acting Consular Function 2 of KJRI Johor Bahru, Leni Marliani, to the Head of the Western Bakamla Zone, First Admiral Bambang Trijanto.
The handover took place on board the KN Tanjung Datu 301, which was anchored in the border area of Indonesian and Malaysian waters, witnessed by the Maritime Commander of APMM Negeri Johor, Mohd Najib bin Sam.
Also present were representatives of the Karimun district government and other related agencies.
Marliani noted that since the beginning of 2025, KJRI Johor Bahru has facilitated the repatriation of six fishermen in similar cases.
She called on Indonesian crew members to gain a clear understanding of the maritime boundary between Indonesian and Malaysian waters to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru extended its appreciation and gratitude for the strong cooperation from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) Johor, the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), and the Karimun district government, which ensured the smooth and successful repatriation of the three crew members.
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Translator: Arie Novarina
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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