The Singapore Police Force (SPF) stated on 2 January that the Singapore Police Coast Guard took “appropriate enforcement action” after Indonesian fishing boats repeatedly entered Singapore territorial waters near Tuas on 24 December.
The incident, which resulted in an Indonesian fisherman falling into the sea, has drawn criticism and calls for clarification from both sides.
The SPF confirmed it was aware of videos and news reports showing the events.
A viral video posted by Batampos on TikTok shows waves from a Singapore coast guard boat causing a fisherman to fall overboard. He was rescued by his crew, one of whom can be heard shouting at the patrol boat’s crew.
According to the SPF, several Indonesian fishing vessels entered and exited Singapore waters multiple times from 8:45 am on 24 December.
Around 1:20 pm, two vessels from a group of five entered further into Singapore waters near Tuas View Extension, prompting the coast guard to intercept them.
The officers instructed the vessels to leave, which they did at approximately 1:40 pm. “The Police Coast Guard took appropriate enforcement action in response to this encroachment by the fishermen,” the SPF stated, emphasising that foreign vessels must comply with Singapore’s authorities when in its waters.
The SPF assured that the coast guard acted professionally and safely and that the Singapore Consulate in Batam is engaging with Indonesian stakeholders to address concerns.
Reactions in Indonesia
The incident has sparked significant backlash from Indonesian fishermen and officials.
The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency announced it was investigating and met with the fishermen involved on 29 December. The fisherman who fell into the sea, identified as Danil Mahadir Van, 18, told CNN Indonesia that he and his father believed they were in their rightful fishing area.
“Suddenly, the Singapore police came to chase us away,” Mahadir said. “We did not want to leave because we felt that it was part of our fishing area.” He added that the patrol boat’s manoeuvres created large waves, leading to his fall.
The Chairman of the Indonesian Fishermen’s Association of the Riau Islands, Distrawandi, condemned the actions of the Singapore Marine Police, describing them as “reckless and dangerous.” He argued that such methods endangered the lives of fishermen and called for humane enforcement.
Maritime Boundaries and Diplomatic Concerns
The waters near Tuas and Nipah Island, where the incident occurred, are close to maritime boundaries—just 2 km away from the Tuas Extension—that can be challenging to distinguish visually.
The strictness of the coast guard’s enforcement may stem from the close proximity of the maritime boundary, necessitating precise adherence to even minor deviations.
Distrawandi noted that many fishermen lack precise knowledge of these boundaries, increasing the likelihood of disputes.
The Indonesian Fishermen’s Association has submitted a formal note of objection to Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging diplomatic action. They criticised the Singapore Marine Police for what they perceive as aggressive behaviour and have called for educational initiatives to inform fishermen of maritime boundaries.
On 27 December, the association met with Singapore Consulate representatives in Batam to address the matter. However, Distrawandi expressed disappointment with the meeting’s outcome, citing limited authority of the Batam consulate office.
Singapore’s authorities have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding territorial waters through professional and safe measures. Meanwhile, Indonesian officials and organisations are seeking a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
To prevent future incidents, Distrawandi called for greater cooperation between the governments of Singapore and Indonesia, including educational campaigns to ensure fishermen understand the limits of territorial waters.
Past dispute over maritime boundaries near Tuas Extension
The Tuas Extension, where the recent incident with Indonesian fishermen occurred, has been a point of contention not only with Indonesia but also with Malaysia.
In late 2018, tensions flared between Singapore and Malaysia over overlapping port limits near the Tuas area.
The dispute arose when Malaysia unilaterally extended its Johor Bahru Port Limits on 25 October 2018, encroaching into Singapore’s territorial waters.
In response, Singapore amended its own port limits on 6 December 2018, citing repeated intrusions by Malaysian government vessels into Singapore’s waters.
Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan defended the move as necessary to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, even as he called for dialogue to de-escalate tensions.
Months of diplomatic engagement culminated in a resolution in March 2019, when both countries agreed to revert to their original port limits and suspend all activities in the disputed area.
The agreement, reached through bilateral negotiations, also included provisions for a joint committee to address maritime boundary delimitation under international law.
