January 28, 2025
JAKARTA – Indonesia has called on Malaysia to launch a thorough investigation into the recent fatal shooting of its citizens and probe possible “excessive use of force” by Malaysian authorities. The call came just ahead of President Prabowo Subianto’s meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, on Monday.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s director for citizen protection, Judha Nugraha, said the shooting took place on Friday in the coastal waters of Tanjung Rhu in the Malaysian state of Selangor.
According to Judha, the incident began when Indonesian nationals, who had allegedly been trying to smuggle themselves out of Malaysia through illegal means, put up a fight against authorities from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), who then opened fire.
“In the incident, one Indonesian national was killed, while a handful others were injured. The victims’ identities are still being investigated,” Judha said in a statement received by The Jakarta Post on Monday.
To this end, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur plans to send a diplomatic note urging for an investigation into the incident, including to determine whether or not excessive force had been used by the APMM.
“The Foreign Ministry and the Indonesian Embassy will continue to monitor the handling of this case by the Malaysian authorities and provide consular assistance to Indonesian citizens [who were harmed in the incident],” Judha added.
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First Deputy Migrant Workers Protection Minister/Migrant Workers Protection Agency(BP2MI) Deputy Head Christina Aryani provided further details into the incident.
She said in a press conference on Sunday that, in addition to the death of one Indonesian national, four others were injured, including one who is now in critical condition. All four are currently receiving treatment in a hospital in Selangor.
“The Ministry urges the Malaysian government to immediately investigate this incident and take firm action against APMM patrol officers if they are proven to have committed acts involving excessive use of force,” Christina said as quoted by an issue released by her office.
The deputy migrant workers minister went on to call for a meeting with the Malaysian government to discuss measures to avoid similar incidents from recurring in the future.
The shooting incident, and Indonesia’s calls for an investigation, occurred ahead of Prabowo’s arrival in Malaysia on Monday, which came on the back of a four-day maiden visit to India.
In Malaysia, Prabowo is scheduled to meet with Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in addition to attending a ceremony where Prabowo is to receive an honorary title from the Malaysian government.