Indonesians, fishmongers advised not to enter Tawau illegally

TAWAU: The Indonesian Consulate (KRI) here has sent a letter to Nunukan’s regent and Tarakan’s mayor after finding out that there are still many ‘jongkong’ (boats) carrying Indonesian passengers and fish to Tawau.

The letter to Nunukan is related to illegal mobilization of Indonesian citizens while the letter to Tarakan is on illegal fishing products that entered illegally to the Tawau Fish Market.

The consul here, Sulistijo Djati Ismojo through the Social and Cultural Information Function, Emir Faisal, said the regional lockdown policy had been implemented by the Malaysian authorities since March 18.

In essence, Sulistijo said there was an oversight and enforcement by the authorities on the policy.

In response to this, KRI has sent a letter requesting Indonesian citizens not to enter Tawau illegally.

According to the Tawau KRI, their observations found several things, among others, the entry of vessels from Sungai Aji Kuning and Sungai Melayu to Tawau to domestic ports carrying Indonesian passengers on March 31, this year.

In the letter, it stated the Tawau Immigration Department service had been shut down since March 21, so foreign ships could not enter Tawau, including fishing vessels, and if any, then it is illegal.

Tawau KRI also found that ships from Indonesia brought marine products to the Tawau Fish Market illegally, one of which is milk fish.

It said the milk fish was taken directly by jongkong (boat) to the fish market or unloaded at the sea border of Sungai Melayu and Wallace Bay to be transferred from a Indonesian ship to a Malaysian ship.

Emir said that Tawau KRI was well aware of the need for Indonesian people to sell their fishery products especially during the Covid-19 recession.

However, in view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Tawau, with one death, Malaysian security personnel at the border are guarding the movement of people, and no person without their permission could go in and out.

Tawau KRI, he said was counting on its citizen not to bring their products for sale in Tawau illegally, as Malaysian security personnel would act decisively, arresting and taking legal action.

It also hoped its citizens in Tawau would not make direct contact as the number of Covid-19 infected victims in Tawau is still increasing.

This letter was also forwarded to the governor of North Kalimantan, Tarakan Province Fisheries Department, Nunukan police chief, heads of Tarakan and Nunukan Customs Office, heads Nunukan and Tarakan Immigration Offices and marine heads.