Mahfudz Siddiq, chairman of Commission I in the DPR, is advising the government to set up clear regulations regarding the sinking of illegal foreign ships in Indonesian waters.
The politician from the PKS political party said there are no laws that justify President Joko Widodo’s wish to shoot down illegal foreign ships.
“In [Indonesian] Law, there’s no maritime policing body (Bakamla) with the authority to sink ships. I guess it’s alright [to sink ships] for shock therapy, but how ready are we? Don’t end up sinking Chinese ships, because if the Chinese get mad, we’re screwed,” Mahfudz said today, as quoted by Kompas.com.
Mahfudz, whose PKS political party is a member of the government opposition Merah Putih Coalition (KMP), said he’s taken Jokowi’s plans with a grain of salt.
“It’s just [the government] trying to act tough,” he said.
Previously, President Jokowi asked the authorities to stamp down on foreigners illegally fishing in Indonesian waters by sinking their ships. Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Maritime Affairs, also called for similarly severe measures to be taken to keep Indonesian waters free of poachers.
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