JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto asked prospective Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) to be aware of syndicate actions because the syndicates will illegally send migrant workers abroad.

The President said illegal routes and non-procedural methods provided by the syndicates were risky, because foreign national officials could take action against them at any time they were caught crossing illegal means.

"I remind you that you should not participate in illegal activities. If you go into a foreign country, the risk is that a foreign country will act. Don't be fooled by syndicates who promise this, promise it," said President Prabowo as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, January 30.

The President conveyed the warning when answering reporters' questions about the shooting of five Indonesian citizens in Tanjung Rhu, Selangor, last Friday, by the Malaysian Maritime Strengthening Agency (APMM), causing one Indonesian citizen to die.

The five Indonesian citizens who were targeted by the APMM were suspected of being prospective migrant workers who entered Malaysian waters and tried to dock to the mainland.

"We are vigilant, we remind you, but we also believe that Malaysia will carry out the best investigation," Prabowo continued.

The President said he also discussed the related issues, in general, with Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim. President Prabowo and PM Anwar met four eyes at the Menara Kembar Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday (27/1). The meeting was part of a series of the Presidential State agenda in Malaysia.

"We are talking about the outline," said President Prabowo.

On a separate occasion, authorities in Malaysia said the shooting occurred because there was resistance from five Indonesian citizens who were targeted by APMM in Tanjung Rhu. However, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied statements that stated there was resistance.

The Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens (PWNI) of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha on Wednesday (29/1) said there was no resistance from the statements of the survivors.

Information from the victims was received directly by the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur who met the four Indonesian citizens at Serdang Hospital and Klang Hospital in Malaysia on Tuesday (28/1).

Two of the four victims when met by the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur were already in a stable condition so they could tell the chronology of the shooting incident. Both said there was no resistance with sharp weapons from Indonesian citizens passengers against the APMM apparatus.

Judha then said that the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded the authorities in Malaysia to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting incident, including the possibility of excessive use of force.

The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur continues to gather more complete information to obtain clearer incident constructions, as well as ask BRI lawyers to review and prepare legal steps in the future.


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