JK, Luhut Argue Against Minister Susi`s Boat Sinking Strategy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) voiced his opinion regarding the sinking of illegal fishing boats based on the Fishery Law.

“There are no requirements in the Law to burn down [the illegal ships], only to detain them,” Jusuf Kalla told journalists at his office on Tuesday, January 9.

Recently, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asked Maritime Affairs and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to stop blowing up and sinking vessels involved in illegal fisheries.

Read: Minister Susi Sinks 87 Ships Involved in Fish Theft in 2017

Luhut argued that the vessels that were bombed by Susi can actually be apprehended to be used as state assets. Another reason was that it is time for Minister Susi to focus on other things outside of sinking ships such as pushing for investments in the fishery sector.

Despite his criticism, Luhut is not denouncing the policy currently practiced by Susi Pudjiastuti. He said that by doing so, Minister Susi proved to the world that Indonesia is tough on crimes involving fishing theft.

Minister Susi responded to Luhut’s criticism through Twitter where she tweeted that the sinking of illegal fishing boats is permitted by the Fishery Law and that it needs to be publically known.

Jusuf Kalla (JK) claims that he is not denying either Luhut or Susi’s argument considering that the Fisheries Law does indeed permit it under Article 69 (4).

ISTMAN MP