DPR asks the government to arrest the mafia of illegal sending of PMI after the shipwreck in Malaysia

Member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Mafirion, is concerned about the tragedy of the sinking of a ship carrying 37 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) non-procedural in Malaysian waters. According to him, the incident that caused 14 people to be missing is a real reflection of the state's failure to protect its citizens from the clutches of illegal syndicates.

Although the search process is still ongoing until last night, Mafirion emphasized that the government should not just stop at post-incident handling but must arrest the mafia of illegal PMI senders.

"This is a very worrying humanitarian tragedy. The state should not see this only as a maritime accident. There are strong indications of allowing illegal PMI shipping practices that risk people's lives," Mafirion said in Jakarta, Thursday, May 14.

Mafirion also highlighted how illegal recruitment syndicates have for years moved freely in migrant pockets, such as Tanjungbalai Asahan, without being significantly touched by the law. He urged the Ministry of P2MI and law enforcement to not only pursue the ship's captain, but also dismantle the intellectual actors behind this human trafficking business.

"Don't just stop at the victim. The apparatus must dismantle the network that takes advantage of the people's suffering. If the syndicate is not cut off upstream, this heartbreaking tragedy will continue to happen," he said.

This PKB legislator also highlighted the strange problem of illegal PMI in Malaysia which has taken root for more than 20 years. According to him, the impact of this unsafe migration is not only felt by workers, but also thousands of their children who are now threatened with losing their citizenship (stateless) identity and access to education.

Therefore, Mafirion asked Komnas HAM and LPSK to actively intervene to investigate the elements of state negligence and provide protection for survivors and their families.

"When residents are forced to risk their lives through illegal channels, it is proof that the state has failed to provide a safe and easily accessible labor migration system. Their children lose their right to education and identity. The state must not continue to allow this situation," explained Mafirion.

He also hopes that this tragedy will be a loud alarm for the government to conduct a total evaluation of the departure supervision system and public education. Mafirion emphasized that the dignity of citizens cannot be bargained with any reason.

"The safety of citizens is the main responsibility. The government must be really serious about eradicating this practice from upstream to downstream, not just responsive when there are victims," he concluded.