Freed fisherman looking forward to wife’s nasi dagang

JOHOR BARU: Fisherman Kamaruzaman Awi (pic) is looking forward to his wife’s nasi dagang and celebrating Hari Raya Haji with his family after being held in Indonesia since last year.

The 47-year-old fisherman from Dungun, Terengganu, had to spend his Hari Raya Aidilfitri last year and this year behind bars in Indonesia.

“This is the best Hari Raya Aidiladha for me as the whole family can spend time together,” he said.

Kamaruzaman was detained by the Indonesian authorities on April 2017 off Natuna Island together with three fishermen for encroaching into Indonesian waters.

The other three fishermen were freed by the authorities there.

Kamaruzaman, the captain of the detained fishing vessel, was fined RM110,000 and had to serve time at the Lanal Terempa, Riau detention centre as he failed to pay the fine.

Kamaruzaman said he was well treated during his 15 months at the centre but had to live in cramped conditions while sharing a cell with about 20 inmates.

“Our daily meals were white rice with fried tempeh and kangkung,” he said.

Kamaruzaman said that the first thing he would ask his wife Farizon Ngah, 42, to cook when he arrived in Dungun was nasi dagang which he has not eaten since April 2017.

“I will only fish on Terengganu waters from now on,” he said.

Kamaruzaman was freed on Aug 3 and arrived at the Stulang Laut Ferry Terminal here from Tanjung Pinang, Riau, at about 4pm.

Kamaruzaman was greeted by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub during a press conference held at a restaurant here yesterday.

Salahuddin said another Malaysian, fisherman Abdul Rashid Nik, 53, from Kuantan, Pahang, has been detained in Tanjung Pinang prison since April last year.

Both Malaysian and Indonesian authorities are negotiating his release and he is expected to be freed next month, he said.

Salahuddin said apart from Kamaruzaman, four other local fishermen detained by the Indonesian authorities had been released this year.

They were Low Siang Huat, 59, from Pulau Ketam, Selangor, Leong Bian Seng, 61, from Dungun, Chia Kee Chan, 52, from Sekinchan, Selangor, and Mahabob Hasimat, 57, from Pontian, Johor.