Intercepted At 'Tikus' Port, 10 Indonesian Candidates For Illegal PMI Detained By Selat Panjang Immigration

Immigration officers detain Indonesian citizens who are illegal PMI candidates on their way to Malaysia/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - As many as 10 Indonesian citizens and one foreigner who were suspected of leaving for Malaysia without going through the Selat Panjang Immigration Checkpoint (TPI), were detained by the Selat Panjang Immigration Office, Riau.

The Immigration Office (Kanim) Class II TPI Selat Panjang is one of the technical implementing units (UPT) within the Riau Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office which serves as the gate guard of the state.

"The chronology of the interception of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) by officers of the Selat Panjang Navy Post, starting with information from officers on August 5, 2022, there was a prospective PMI who was going to Malaysia illegally using a wooden speedboat through the mouse port on Rangsang Island, Meranti Islands Regency, " said Head of the Riau Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office, Mhd Jahari Sitepu, quoting Antara, Sunday, August 7.

He said that on Saturday, August 6, at 19.45 WIB, Second Lieutenant (Letda) Laut Yustine as Commander of the Navy Post (AL) Selat Panjang had handed over 10 Indonesian citizens (WNI) and one suspected citizen (WN). ) Malaysia who want to travel abroad to the Head of Kanim Selat Panjang, Maryana.

These eleven immigrants, he said again, were suspected of going to Malaysia without going through the Immigration Checkpoint (TPI).

"Furthermore, on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 2 in the morning, the team visually saw a floating speedboat and approached and inspected it. There were nine PMI candidates, one suspected foreigner, and one Indonesian citizen as crew member of the ship," he said.

Another suspected tekong speedboat, he said, actually plunged into the sea and fled to the edge of the mangrove forest. After being examined by the Navy, these 11 people were handed over to the Kanim Selat Panjang and placed in the detention room for the examination process.

He explained that the Riau Ministry of Law and Human Rights would immediately contact the Malaysian Consulate in Pekanbaru to check the citizenship status of the 1 immigrant who claimed to be a Malaysian citizen.

"After sufficient evidence, later we will carry out Immigration Administration Action (TAK) to the person concerned. It can be in the form of prevention and deterrence, deportation or even a judicial process (pro justicia)," explained the Regional Head of Regional Office.

As for the detained Indonesian citizens, we will coordinate with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI). The 10 Indonesian citizens who were intercepted from traveling to Malaysia were mostly workers from NTB.

"I hope that Immigration officers can continue to work optimally to maintain the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia so that no intruders or immigrants enter and leave the Republic of Indonesia without passing checkpoints and complete immigration documents," he said.

Maintain integrity and honesty, the message is, do not want to be bribed by illegal immigrants, because I will impose strict sanctions for those who try to bribe bribery.