The Indonesian Consulate General In Kuching Accompanied The Repatriation Of Sukabumi Residents

The Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching while escorting PMI Engkus at PLBN Entikong, Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan, Wednesday (31/5/2023). (ANTARA/HO-KJRI Kuching)

The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Kuching assisted in the repatriation of an Indonesian migrant worker named Engkus (48) to Sukabumi and his daughter through the Entikong State Border Post (PLBN) in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan.

"The migrant worker was dispatched to Jakarta to be handed over to his family through the Directorate of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Indonesian Legal Entities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs," said the Consul at the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 31.

Sigit explained that Engkus and his son Leony Jasmine (12) are non-procedural PMIs who work and live in Melugu Village, Sri Aman, Sarawak, Malaysia, because they are not equipped with any documents.

The Consul General said that their search for their whereabouts was carried out by the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching, after receiving reports from his family in Indonesia to the Directorates of PWNI and BHI, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"And on May 16, 2023, the KJRI Kuching protection team managed to find the two of them in Melugu," said Sigit.

According to him, the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching's team then checked the documents concerned and it turned out that the validity period of the passport had expired. Meanwhile, Engkus's son has not received a document or identity card.

When met, Engkus admitted that he entered Sarawak in 2007 through the Entikong border, continuing to Bintulu City. Then in 2008, he met Anne Merry Seroy, Serian and since then, they have lived together and worked from place to place.

Then in 2012, they settled in Kampung Melugu, Sri Aman after his wife gave birth to a daughter named Leony Jasmine. So far, Engkus and his family have never returned to Indonesia. But then on May 6, 2023, his wife died due to illness and at the request of Engkus and the permission of the head and residents of Kampung Melugu, Sri Aman, buried in Kampung Melugu.

After that on May 11, 2023, the family of Engkus' late wife in Indonesia expressed their concern to the Directorates of PWNI and BHI regarding Leony Jasmine's condition.

"Currently, the child only lives with Engkus and must be entrusted to his neighbors when Engkus works. Therefore, the family asks for help so that both of them can be returned to Indonesia," said Sigit.

Sigit said that while the repatriation of the two Indonesian citizens was carried out by the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching in collaboration with the Immigration Office of Sarawak, Malaysia, the Indonesian Citizens/PMI-B Repatriation Task Force Team at the Entikong PLBN, West Kalimantan and a Team from the Dit. PWNI and BHI Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs in Jakarta.