Chinese Foreign Workers Enter Indonesia When Emergency PPKM Continues To Be 'Fried,' PAN: Our Sovereignty Is Being Torn Apart

JAKARTA - The chairman of the PAN faction of the DPR, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, deeply regrets the government's policy of still accepting foreign workers (TKA) when the COVID-19 pandemic spiked.

According to him, the arrival of foreign nationals certainly worries the people, especially those from China.

"This country of China is the first epicenter of the corona virus and has spread to the world. If they are allowed to enter Indonesia, this means it will hurt the feelings of the Indonesian people because they are currently experiencing extraordinary tightening," Saleh said when contacted, Tuesday, July 6.

Furthermore, the member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives explained that the big consequence of Emergency PPKM is to reduce the mobility of citizens which has an impact on reducing income.

"So their income is also less. But, at the same time there are foreigners who enter Indonesia freely, and instead they come to work and make a living, this will hurt," said Saleh regretfully.

In the midst of the issue of increasing exposure to COVID-19, said Saleh, the government should refrain from accepting anyone, including foreign workers.

"I don't know why the Indonesian government always seems to succumb to foreign workers from China. Why are foreign workers from China being special, who can come and go at any time," said the chairman of the PAN DPP.

The North Sumatran legislator then questioned about Chinese investment. The reason is that the sectors they manage are the mining sector and the energy sector, in this case electricity which at any time if successful is not given free to Indonesia but will instead sell it.

"So they use Indonesian resources, later after they are successfully purchased by Indonesian citizens. Because of that they will get very big profits, while on the other hand we don't get anything," said Saleh.

"Even for Indonesian workers, it is difficult to accept them in their companies. On average, their companies employ their own workers. From a manpower perspective, we can't, so those who get the widest benefit are foreign workers," continued the member of the board who sat on the commission on labor and health.

Most importantly, added Saleh, this is very contrary to the values in the preamble of the 1945 Constitution. In which the state must protect all of Indonesia's bloodshed, and every citizen has the right to a decent life.

"So a decent living is given to foreigners, it really hurts and injures the hearts of Indonesian citizens, especially those in the area, where they open the investment," Saleh explained.

Saleh hopes that the government will not play around with the issue of the entry of Chinese foreign workers to Indonesia because it has spread on social media. Moreover, the video of the arrival of the Chinese citizen has been watched by many people.

"So our government asks us to be firm, if they don't get work permits, I hope they will be sent back to their respective countries. When the pandemic has subsided, we will evaluate again whether we will accept it or not," said Saleh.

Regarding the work permit, Saleh said that actually every foreigner who enters Indonesia must have a visa.

"But we don't know whether the visa they are using is a regular visit, tourist or work visa. If what is used is a temporary tourist visa when they come to work, it is a violation. If they intend to work, they must use a work visa, and that must be in the agreement. There are rules and clauses made in the regulation of the minister of manpower, "he explained.

If these Chinese citizens are found to have violated the rules, said Saleh, then they must be sanctioned and deported.

"Don't let Indonesia's sovereignty be disturbed because of people like this. If we can't handle it properly, it means that our sovereignty has been torn apart," said Saleh Partaonan Daulay.