Airlangga's Men Reveal The Reason Why Hundreds Of Chinese Workers Can Still Enter Indonesia

Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government has banned chartered aircraft from abroad to enter the country. However, a few days ago there were also dozens of foreign nationals (WNA) who came to Indonesia. This eventually made the public wonder about the government's policy.

In response, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso said foreign workers (TKA) are allowed to enter Indonesia when the homecoming ban is imposed. This is because it relates to strategic industrial activities.

"TKA context is different from homecoming, this is because it is related to the production problems of some industries that are very strategic for our economy that is also invested from foreign, some from China and so on," he said in a virtual press conference, Monday, May 17.

According to Susi, the arrival of foreign workers (TKA) will be focused by air through Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado, North Sulawesi. He said his policy arrangements had been affirmed by the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.

"After yesterday it was announced that until today the period of homecoming is certainly no permit for charter aircraft carrying special TKA from one, two countries that yesterday often in the spotlight," he explained.

Furthermore, Susi also asked the public not only to look from the context of TKA because in principle the government only prohibits homecoming activities and does not prohibit other domestic activities.

"Any normal activity that is not in the context of homecoming, business activities, any business activities is actually nothing that we prohibit, we still want to keep from the economic side," he said.

In addition, said Susi, referring to the Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights, the entry ban for foreigners is excluded for holders of limited residence permits and permanent residence permits, as well as foreigners who hold diplomatic visas and service visas.

"The arrival of TKA is about procedures for the fulfillment of health protocols, and then quarantine and so on there are already regulations and tightened," he said.

Previously, on Saturday, May 8, as many as 157 TKA citizens from China again arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten. Then reported a number of media that as many as 114 foreigners entered Indonesia on Thursday, May 13. From these, about 110 people are suspected to be TKA from China.

Director-General of Immigration of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights Jhoni Ginting said foreigners arriving in the country have been eligible in Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia Number 26 of 2020 concerning Visas and Residence Permits in the Adaptation Period of New Habits.