TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla cabinet enters its fourth year in office, some of its ministers still choose to engage in a public war of words to sort out their differences of opinions. The squabble between Maritime Affairs Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, which should have been quietly resolved in an internal meeting but was instead publicized via the mass media, points to a communication breakdown among the ministries.

Luhut told Susi not to sink any more foreign ships caught stealing fish in the Indonesian waters, later linking the activity to the decline in fish supply for export. He then asked the fisheries minister to focus on boosting production. Minister Susi retorted that the burning and drowning of illegal foreign fishing boats were mandated by the law. Her ministry also promptly released data showing the increased fish export throughout 2017.

Sinking boats and fish export are clearly two different matters. The former is part of the maritime law enforcement initiatives. According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Indonesia suffered Rp30 trillion in losses annually from illegal fishing. Fisheries Resources Laboratory, a research agency, showed in 2013 an even more astounding number: the value of the stolen fish from the Arafura Sea alone reached Rp520 trillion in the past decade.

The enforcement of the laws and state sovereignty in the seas is critical, and article 69 of the fisheries law No. 45/2009 mandates burning and sinking illegal fishing vessels. Thousands of vessels were caught in the past three years, out of which 363 were sunk. As required by the article 76-A of the law, the sinkings were done with court approvals.

The government’s consistency in enforcing the law will be questioned if the policy is suddenly scrapped. According to the maritime affairs ministry’s data, this shock and awe tactic, coupled with the moratorium on ex-foreign fishing boats and the prohibition of loading and unloading catches in the sea, have contributed to increased fish supply to 12.5 million tons in 2016, 2.5 tons more compared to the previous year.

Indeed, the fisheries law does not obligate destruction as a punishment. Minister Luhut and Vice President Jusuf Kalla are of the view that it would be more beneficial if the seized vessels are auctioned off. But Tempo’s investigation three years ago showed that some of the auctioned boats were purchased again by thieves.

The government certainly needs to boost export and maintain the sustainability of the fishing industry. But a firm stance in enforcing the maritime law is not less important, thus both must go hand in hand. Minister Luhut, who oversees Minister Susi’s ministry, needs to synchronize the two ministries’ activities.

Jokowi’s cabinet has been running for more than three years. It is frustrating for the public to witness quarrels among cabinet members over a myriad of issues, from 35,000 MW power plant project, Masela Block construction to Freeport contract renewal. There was also a public debate between former Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan and State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno over the Jakarta-Bandung fast train project.

Joko Widodo has actually issued the presidential instruction No. 7/2017 regarding making and managing policies at ministerial and institutional levels, which prohibits ministers from being publicly embroiled in squabbles. Sadly, the disharmony displayed by some ministers does not reflect the cabinet’s unanimity when it comes to solving public issues.

Read the full article in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine