140 PMI Victims Of Human Trafficking In Malaysia Repatriated, Including 56 Women And 8 Children

40 PMIs were repatriated from Pasir Gudang, Malaysia on Wednesday 11 May. (Ogen/Between)

KEPRI - A total of 140 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) victims of trafficking were repatriated from Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. The Indonesian citizens consisted of 76 men, 56 women, and 8 children.

All of the Indonesian citizens returned to Indonesia via the Sri Bintan Pura international port (SBP) Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (Kepri) on Wednesday, May 11.

"They came from various regions, such as Aceh, Medan to Sulawesi," said Tanjungpinang Protection House and Trauma Center (RPTC) Technical Implementer Piter M Matakena, quoted from Antara, Wednesday 11 May.

Piter said that the 140 PMIs were repatriated to the country due to various problems, one of which was working illegally or without official documents in neighboring countries.

Currently the PMIs are temporarily placed in the Tanjungpinang RPTC building in Senggarang, while waiting for the central government to return them to their respective areas.

"Everything has been checked according to the COVID-19 health protocol when they arrived at the port of arrival," he added.

Furthermore, Piter conveyed that the repatriation of PMI from neighboring countries would be carried out in stages. During the month of May, it is targeted that as many as 560 Indonesian PMIs from Malaysia will be repatriated to Indonesia.