10 Indonesian Workers In Malaysia Returning To The Country Via The Illegal Pathway Of The Entikong Forest

ILLUSTRATION / A number of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) queue to enter the Entikong PLBN building, Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan (ANTARA)

SANGGAU - The Border Security Task Force (Satgas Pamtas) Infantry Battalion 642 / Kapuas secured 10 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) returning from Malaysia to Indonesia through forests or illegal channels.

"The 10 non-procedural PMIs were secured while passing through the left and right sides of the Entikong PLBN," said the Indonesian-Malaysian Military Task Force Infantry Battalion 642 / Kps, Lt. Col. Inf Alim Mustofa, in Entikong Sanggau, West Kalimantan (West Kalimantan), quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 12.

Mustofa, the migrant workers were secured by members of the Task Force Infantry Battalion 642 guarding the left and right sectors of the Entikong State Border Post (PLBN), Sanggau, Monday, January 11, because they tried to enter Indonesia and did not have official travel documents abroad.

According to him, increased surveillance of illegal routes at the border between Indonesia and Malaysia is being carried out by the Task Force for the Military Command Battalion 642 in preventing illegal activities and traffic of goods and people. This has been intensified in connection with the outbreak of COVID-19.

"While in Malaysia the PMIs worked on oil palm plantations, the lockdown policy imposed by the Malaysian government and the absence of jobs in the neighboring country required them to return to Indonesia," said Mustofa.

The 642 Yonif Task Force confirmed that all Indonesian citizens who entered the country from Malaysia had to go through a series of COVID-19 health protocol checks at the Entikong PLBN.

Together with the Port Health Office (KKP) officers for the Entikong work area, the PMIs carried out health protocol procedures such as spraying luggage, washing hands, checking vital signs starting from body temperature, followed by rapid tests and medical history interviews. After the rapid test results were declared non-reactive, they received a health certificate.

Then, said Mustofa, 10 PMIs were handed over to the Entikong Immigration Office to be recorded and interviewed about their travel history and their belongings being checked by the Entikong Customs and Excise Office.

"Everything that enters from Malaysia will be directed to pass a series of health checks, Immigration and Customs, to reduce the risk of being exposed to COVID-19." Mostopha said.