The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) succeeded in freeing a local fishing boat detained by an Indonesian Fisheries Surveillance vessel at 24.5 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Jarak in Lumut, Perak yesterday.

Perak MMEA acting director Shahrizan Raman said the local fishing boat was freed after negotiations between Perak MMEA via boat Penggalang 13 with Indonesian patrol vessel Orca 02.

He said MMEA ship KM Nyalau was also involved in the negotiations.

“The fishing boat was allegedly detained at 7am yesterday for inspection only and negotiations were conducted to free the boat with the crew, comprising two Thais and three Cambodians.

“The boat was then escorted to Bagan Pancor in Pantai Remis for further action and an investigation conducted found the boat was not at fault,” he said in a statement today.

- Bernama