NTB Police Reveals The Tariff Of Distributors For Departing Illegal Migrant Workers To Malaysia Of IDR 6-10 Million

Police officers escort a man with the initials MU alias Long (middle) suspected of distributing Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who became victims of a ship sinking in Malaysian waters, at BIZAM, Central Lombok, NTB, Tuesday (4/1/2021). (ANTARA/HO-Polda NTB Public Relations)

MATARAM - Director of the General Criminal Investigation of the West Nusa Tenggara Police, Kombes Hari Brata, revealed the tariff from a dealer with the initials MU alias Long for the one-time fee for illegally departing Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) to Malaysia.

"The tariff for one PMI is IDR 6 million to IDR 10 million. So in this case it is not the victim who is paid, but the victim who pays", said Hari Brata in Mataram, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 5.

By handing over IDR 6-10 million, residents get the convenience of working as PMI abroad. The money, he said, made it easier for PMIs to work abroad without having to follow official procedures according to government regulations.

"So there is no need for PMI to go through the procedures. There are no passports, visas, 'medical check-ups'", he said.

However, to make it easier for PMIs to work in other countries, without having to "cat and mouse" with the local security authorities, Long made them Malaysian identity cards.

"That's why the case of illegal PMI or TPPO (Trafficking in Persons) will not be revealed if there are no victims. Because it is difficult to identify", said Hari.

In addition to disclosing the departure rates, Hari also disclosed the PMI status of victims from ships that sank in Malaysian waters, who on average already had experience working abroad.

"Like one of the PMI victims who died who came from Central Lombok, it had departed twice, through this Long. He paid IDR 10 million", he said.