Chua Lee Teck, 45; and Heng Chee Yong, 29; of Bagan Sekinchan here had been detained in Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia, since March 4.

They were freed today after Indonesian President Joko Widodo signed a pardon.

Some 200 people, comprising relatives and friends, greeted them at the Pantai Redang jetty in Sekinchan as they arrived, accompanied by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim and Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos, in two fishing boats.

Shahidan and Jamal were among several Barisan Nasional leaders who had boarded the two fishing boats flying the Malaysian, Barisan Nasional (BN) and MCA flags to bring back the fishermen from a patrol vessel of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in the Malacca Straits.

“I did not think that we would be able to return to Malaysia so fast. We came to know yesterday from our trawler captain who contacted us that we would be released today.

“Without help from the government, we would have had to spend more time, perhaps two more years, there,” said Chua upon their return here this evening.

He said they were looked after well by the Indonesian authorities.

Heng was overcome with emotion upon seeing his family and hugged his two children.

“During our detention, all I could think of was how my family was getting on. I am very grateful to the government for helping to get us freed.

“I have not eaten for days. My only thought now is to have a meal with my family,” he said.

Jamal said efforts to get the fishermen freed had begun in March and that they were carried out with the assistance of BN component parties.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mah Siew Keong and MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon, who is also deputy education minister, were also present to welcome the fishermen.

Along with the two Sekinchan fishermen, the Indonesian government also freed four fishermen from Pontian, Johor.

– BERNAMA