Important Appeals, Don't Try To Work In Malaysia Illegally

Ambassador Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Of The Republic Of Indonesia For Malaysia Dato' Indera Hermono/ Photo: ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Malaysia Dato' Indera Hermono reminded all Indonesian citizens not to ever try to work in Malaysia non-procedurally or not according to the provisions.

Quoted from ANTARA, Ambassador Hermono said, there are so many vulnerabilities and risks that arise due to non-procedural work in Malaysia, especially for domestic workers or the household sector.

"So friends, don't try to enter Malaysia to work by breaking the rules. Don't work on the term 'empty'," said Ambassador Hermono.

He reminded that in the past year the Malaysian government has been increasingly carrying out law enforcement operations against foreign migrants without permission (PATI).

Foreign arrivals without permission caught in immigration will be immediately deported to their country of origin, or departure airport. The repatriation process often takes time, because they have to wait for a possible flight, so the PATIs are often forced to stay at Malaysian airports to wait for their return in an uncomfortable situation.

"In the last few months, I have often received reports from the public or from authorities in Malaysia, many of our citizens have been refused entry to Malaysia, in other words NTL, not to land, are not allowed to enter Malaysia, because they are suspected of working (non-procedural)," he said.

In addition, said Ambassador Hermono, Malaysian authorities have also tightened supervision at airports or at ports, with the establishment of a new agency called the Kawalan and Sempadan Protection Agency (AKPS).

AKPS will really strictly monitor foreigners entering Malaysia, especially those suspected of working, or will commit violations.

"So don't try to enter Malaysia to work but it doesn't follow the procedure because it is possible to be denied entry or NTL, not to land, or not allowed to enter. So if that's the case, you will be bothered yourself later, because later you will definitely be deported home, you have to wait at the airport. Sometimes waiting for possible flights, some are two days, three days at the airport," he explained.

He emphasized that Indonesian citizens who will work in Malaysia must obey the regulations, or go through the right agency to be safe.

Working non-procedurally in Malaysia, in addition to potentially being arrested by the authorities, also risks arbitrary treatment by employers, such as not receiving a salary, experiencing abuse, and the risk of difficulty accessing health services if sick.

"We have received many complaints from the public, our people who are sick here, no one will pay, because there is no permit. If there is a permit, there is insurance," said Ambassador Hermono.

He conveyed that the Indonesian Embassy and the Indonesian Consulate General in Malaysia always try to help Indonesian citizens or Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who are in trouble. However, state money has a limit.

Therefore, he firmly reminded that no more Indonesian citizens should try to work in Malaysia non-procedurally.

Domestic workers

Ambassador Hermono conveyed that foreign workers in the domestic sector or household sector in Malaysia have a much greater risk than other sectors, if they are non-procedural.

"Especially for them, Ms. (female) yes, who work in the household. Never be 'empty'. I remind you not to ever work 'empty' in the household sector. Because this is a far greater risk," he said.

He said recently there were various reports of non-procedural household workers who had not been paid for 21 years, until they were victims of abuse by their employers.

"Some were tortured, doused with hot water until they were injured. There were permanent injuries and others," he explained.

Based on data compiled by the Indonesian Embassy, cases of unpaid workers, persecution, and neglect, around 95 percent are women in the household sector.

Of that total, about 97 percent of them are non-procedural workers without clear permits.

"The male, let alone working in the company, in restaurants, is relatively safe," he said.

According to him, if Indonesia can solve the problem of non-procedural household workers, the protection of PMI abroad, especially in Malaysia, will be much better.

Currently, Indonesia and Malaysia already have a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding PMI protection in the domestic sector.

However, the MoU will be in vain if PMI in Malaysia is still working non-procedurally.

"By following the right path according to the procedure, the cost is much cheaper than non-procedural. Because if according to the procedure, the employer is not allowed to charge. But if it is non-procedural, it will be cut, at least it will be cut by six months," said Ambassador Hermono.

On the other hand, in an interview session with ANTARA some time ago, Ambassador Hermono also encouraged immigration parties in Indonesia to really be able to prevent prospective non-procedural migrant workers, through strict profiling.

With strict profiling, it is hoped that the number of non-procedural Indonesian migrant workers can continue to be suppressed or decreased.