Aceh Provincial Government Efforts To Repatriate 3 Migrant Workers With Problems In Malaysia

Illustration-Officers of the Indonesian Migrant Work Protection Agency (left) collect identity data on a number of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Aceh/Via ANTARA)

ACEH - The Aceh government through the Aceh Social Service has taken certain steps to repatriate three Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from Aceh who were hit by problems in neighboring Malaysia.

"We have communicated with BP2MI Aceh and the chairman of the Bansigom Aceh Community Solidarity (SUBA) in Malaysia, Tgk Bukhari Bin Ibrahim," said Aceh Social Service Head Yusrizal in Banda Aceh, Antara, Tuesday, June 14.

Yusrizal said that so far there have been three PMIs from Aceh who were immediately repatriated by the Aceh Government, two people from Aceh Tamiang Regency and one from Pidie Regency.

"The three of them are temporarily accommodated by SUBA Aceh in Malaysia, while waiting for the completion of the administration of the PMIs," he said.

Yusrizal said that it took time for the PMIs to return home to prepare all their needs, especially regarding the completeness of the documents for the workers, so that their rights were fulfilled.

"This relates to state regulations there which of course we have to respect. I hope the team from the Aceh Social Service can immediately connect with the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia for further processing," he said.

Yusrizal emphasized that specifically for the repatriation of PMIs, the Aceh Social Service worked closely with Aceh's BP2MI for the repatriation process from abroad to the workers' places of origin.

"For example, when repatriating Azizah from Lhokseumawe who was in a coma in Malaysia and Syarifah from Banda Aceh who had a stroke and was abandoned in Malaysia. Thank God they were successfully assisted and handed over to their families," he said.

On this occasion, Yusrizal thanked the Chair of the Aceh SUBA Tgk Bukhari, the Acehnese in Malaysia and the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for their assistance so far.

So far, continued Yusrizal, the Aceh Social Service has always followed up on any reports of Acehnese displaced abroad.

"God willing, we will help as much as we can according to the direction of the Governor of Aceh Nova Iriansyah," said Yusrizal.