152 Illegal PMI Arrested In Malaysia, Indonesian Consulate General In Kuching Coordinating Repatriation

JAKARTA - The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Kuching is coordinating with Immigration Malaysia regarding the arrest and repatriation of 152 illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who work for palm oil companies in Miri, Sarawak.

The Indonesian Consul General, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, said that as many as 152 illegal PMIs had the status of unlicensed foreigners (PATI).

"We have received this information from Malaysian Immigration officials, that on October 28, 2022, illegal PMIs who worked in palm oil plantations belonging to the Tawakal Megah Sdn Bhd were arrested, and including 18 CLC children who were also arrested for not having a residence permit and not having a residence permit. a valid work permit," he said, quoted from Antara, Thursday, November 10.

He explained that the 18 children were arrested because their parents were caught by Malaysian Immigration. All of them are students at the Tawakal Megah Community Learning Center (CLC) Sdn Bhd.

He added, following up on the information, his party immediately coordinated with the Malaysian Immigration Office to get confirmation about the arrest.

"And we received information that the PMIs after being arrested were then placed at the Bekenu Immigration Detention Center for the investigation process and awaiting a decision from the Pendakwa Raya in Sarawak," he said.

Meanwhile, the Acting Consular Function 1 of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Budimansyah added, regarding this matter, the Malaysian Immigration Department also conveyed information that on October 22, 2022, another arrest was made at the National Farmers Association (Nafas) in the Sungai Karap Miri field, Sarawak. A total of 59 women and children have been arrested and charged under the Immigration Deed Section 56(2)A.1.1959/63.

"The Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching, through a letter to the Malaysian Immigration Office, has submitted a request that the arrested PMIs, including mothers and children, can be pardoned and deported to Indonesia. In accordance with the direction of the Consul General, we also coordinate with the leadership of the Tawakal Megah Sdn Bhd and Nafas companies to be responsible for fulfilling the rights of PMIs and facilitating the deportation process to Indonesia," he said.

Then, he continued, on November 2, 2022, the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching received an answer that all Indonesian citizens could be deported to Indonesia and the deportation process was handed over to the Bekenu Immigration Detention Center.

To follow up on this, the Immigration Technical Functional Officer of the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching, Ronny Fajar Purba, said that on November 4, 2022, the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching had conducted data collection and biometric collection of Indonesian citizens-B at the Bekenu Immigration Depot.

According to Ronny, the total number of PMI arrested was recorded at 152, with details of 70 men, 42 women, 19 boys and 21 girls.

"They are planned to be deported to Indonesia on Thursday, November 10, 2022 (today) through the Entikong State Border Post (PLBN), West Kalimantan," he said.