Called 325 Thousand Indonesian Citizens Without Citizenship, Komnas HAM Asks The Government For The Form Of A Special Working Team

JAKARTA - The National Commission (Komnas) on Human Rights (HAM) said as many as 325,477 Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Malaysia have the potential to have citizenship or stateless.

"The Indonesian Consul General (Consulat General) in Malaysia recorded 151,979 Indonesian citizens in Malaysia who have the potential to become stateless in Sabah, Malaysia, as many as 151,979 Indonesian citizens in Kinabalu and 173,498 people in Tawau; with a total of 325,477 people," said Komnas HAM Advance Sub-Commission Coordinator Anis Hidayah when confirmed, Sunday, December 18.

In addition, Anis continued, based on Komnas HAM data, Malaysia became the highest country to be complained about regarding the problems of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI).

On this basis, Komnas HAM recommended the Indonesian government form a special working team to deal with PMI and children who lost their citizenship.

Komnas HAM also encourages the Indonesian Government to build strategic cooperation with relevant ministries and non-ministerial government agencies (K/L) in dealing with PMI problems.

"As well as placing the role of civil society as a partner of the Government in seeking PMI protection in accordance with human rights standards," he said, quoted by Antara.

Anies revealed that previously Komnas HAM signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the issue of people who lost citizenship in Sabah, Malaysia, on April 23, 2019. The MoU was signed by Komnas HAM with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP).

International Migrant Workers' Day falls on December 18. The date of the commemoration is based on the United Nations (UN) which adopted the International Convention on the Protection of All the Rights of Migrant Workers and Their Families 1990 or the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of His Family in 1990.

"This 32nd anniversary of Migrant Workers' Day is important for the Government of Indonesia, which is a shipping country, to reflect on their protection, which is often called a foreign exchange hero," said Anis.