# Indonesia‑Malaysia fishermen detention and legal actions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/indonesiamalaysia-fishermen-detention-and-legal-actions
> Updated: 2026-08-07T09:59:06.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

In early August 2026, Indonesian authorities reported that several fishermen from the Riau Islands had been detained by Malaysian officials after their boats drifted into Sarawak waters without permission. The Indonesian provincial government and its consulate in Kuching began coordinating with Malaysia to ascertain the fishermen’s condition and arrange possible repatriation.

A week later, a Malaysian Sessions Court imposed substantial fines and potential prison terms on six Indonesian fishermen who had been found guilty of illegal fishing in Sarawak waters. The court also seized the vessels and catch. In the same period, Malaysian magistrates sentenced 22 Indonesian workers, including 21 women, to short prison terms for using counterfeit identity cards to work in a rubber factory, highlighting broader enforcement actions against Indonesian nationals in Malaysia.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-07: Indonesian nationals fined and jailed in Malaysia for illegal fishing, fake IDs

Malaysian courts fined six Indonesian fishermen RM1.44 million for illegal fishing in Sarawak and jailed 22 Indonesian workers for two months after they used fake MyKad IDs to work in a Klang rubber factory.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesian-nationals-fined-and-jailed-in-malaysia-for-illegal-fishing-fake-ids

### 2026-08-01: Riau Islands fishermen detained by Malaysia, Indonesia seeks clarification

Indonesia says seven Riau Islands fishermen were detained by Malaysia after drifting into Sarawak waters; officials are confirming details and coordinating with the consulate in Kuching.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/riau-islands-fishermen-detained-by-malaysia-indonesia-seeks-clarification

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Cite as: Indonesia‑Malaysia fishermen detention and legal actions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/indonesiamalaysia-fishermen-detention-and-legal-actions