Revealed! New Mode To Snatch Prospective Migrant Workers, Lure To Get Rp3 Million In Money

Kasubditgakkum Ditpolairud Riau Islands Police AKBP Nanang Indra Bakti revealed the case of sending illegal PMI in Batam, Thursday (20/1). (ANTARA/Naim),

BATAN - An advertisement on social media attracted the attention of SR (53), a resident of Malang, East Java. A job vacancy in Malaysia with fantastic salary.

He who at that time was really upset because of family problems seemed to have hope. Trying your luck in someone else's country is an option.

"I ran away from home because I had a fight with my husband, that's all," said SR who was met at the Riau Islands Police's Polair Headquarters, reported by Antara, Thursday, January 20.

In his imagination at that time, he could go to Malaysia, work there looking for sustenance to save in old age.

Advertisers promise a salary of IDR 5 million to IDR 6 million per month. A fantastic number in the midst of the stifling COVID-19 pandemic.

SR was only asked to prepare to leave. The advertiser does not charge for shipping to Malaysia, the flight fare to Batam has been paid.

On the contrary, he was provided with Rp. 3 million before leaving. "We didn't pay, we were even given money. We were given Rp. 3 million, but we don't know the person," he said.

So that's it, SR left for Batam. On the plane he met friends with the same fate who wanted to improve life in Malaysia.

"I didn't know him at the time. When I got here, I just met him," said the bespectacled woman.

Arriving in Batam, he began to be confused, because he was moved from one place to another. There is almost no place to ask about when to leave, and how to get to Malaysia.

Not only in Batam, he and other prospective Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) were moved to a buffer island in Karimun Regency, which is about two hours from Malaysia.

In a house on Juda Island, Moro District, Karimun Regency, he was secluded for four days. Before finally the police raided the place.

A number of victims of illegal PMI shipments who were rescued by the Riau Islands Police were waiting for departure to the BP2MI "shelter". (ANTARA/Naim)

noose

During a pandemic with a stifling economy as it is today, the offer to work with a salary of around Rp. 5 million is indeed tempting. Moreover, there is an advance that is paid before PMI flies to the contested land.

The modus operandi of ensnaring illegal PMIs is different from the previous stories. In the past, prospective workers had to pay millions of rupiah to be dispatched to Malaysia. This time, on the other hand, everything is free, even a pocket of IDR 3 million is given.

It's no wonder that many are trapped in this beautiful cradle, but what is called a snare, in the end it will be hard.

Apart from illegally departing through the harbor of mice sailing in small boats, the dealers also take their wages for the first four months.

"Not being cut, but not getting it," said another illegal PMI candidate, N (43) a resident of Banyuwangi, East Java, telling the agreement with the supplier.

But for him, it doesn't matter. Because the salary of 1,300 ringgit in the following months is considered enough to pay all the hard work.

It's sad to imagine these tough women willing to work for four months without getting paid. Moreover, when they sailed to Malaysia, they had to be crammed into a small boat that was not feasible in the middle of high sea waves in January.

Really, what a pain. Two heart-wrenching experiences when a ship carrying illegal PMI sank and caused casualties are still fresh in my mind.

Fortunately, the police caught on to the crime, raiding a shelter on Juda Island. The Riau Islands Police managed to uncover the illegal PMI sending network, by securing a total of 22 PMI candidates and arresting two suspects.

Along with the disclosure of the case, BP2MI repatriated all the victims to their areas of origin. SR felt relieved. N is still curious to try his luck in Malaysia.

"If it's a legal route, I still want it," he said.

Border closure

Head of UPT BP2MI Riau Islands, Mangiring Sinaga, stated that his party would conduct guidance and extract information to find out the reasons why people were desperate to go to Malaysia through illegal routes.

The information was extracted to be taken into consideration in making the next regulation.

According to him, the main reason people decide to go to Malaysia through illegal routes is because there are still no openings for PMI placements in neighboring countries.

"Until today, Malaysia has not been opened for PMI placement, so they are traveling through the back door," he said.

In addition, there are also residents who decide to leave illegally because their status has been blacklisted by the Malaysian Authority so they cannot enter legally.

He denied the difficulty of the procedure for sending PMI officially, which made people flock to Malaysia in the wrong way.

However, he admitted that the information regarding the legal departure of PMI was still minimal. Residents trust the lure of brokers more than official government information.

Meanwhile, the Riau Islands Police are committed to cracking down on illegal PMI shipments to their roots, recruiters in their area of origin.

In the case of sending illegal PMI through Karimun involving victims SR and N, the Head of Sub-Directorate General of the Ditpolairud Polda Riau Islands AKBP Nanang Indra Bakti stated that he had named two suspects, the owners of the PMI shelter house.

"This is a success and seriousness of the Riau Islands Police through the Riau Islands Police's Ditpolairud in uncovering the illegal PMI sending network," he said.

He hoped that no more citizens would go to Malaysia via illegal routes, so they would not become the next victim.