Optimizing the Role of Social Rehabilitation Center in Repatriating Troubled Indonesian Migrant Workers in Malaysia

Writer :

Humas Ditjen Rehabilitasi Sosial

Editor :

Annisa YH

Translator :

Karlina Irsalyana

JAKARTA (June 18, 2021) - Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Harry Hikmat, attended the invitation of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture through a zoom meeting related to the follow-up coordination meeting for handling the return of Troubled Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMIB) from Malaysia.

Deputy for the Coordination of Quality Improvement for Children, Women, and Youth at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Femmy Eka Kartika Putri led a follow-up coordination meeting for handling PMIB's return from Malaysia. "The purpose of this meeting is to coordinate and synchronize the preparations for the repatriation of PMIB from Malaysia," explained Femmy.

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuala Lumpur (KBRI KL), has received data on 293 deportees of vulnerable groups from 8 Malaysian immigration depots. Most of them are East Java (70 people), North Sumatra (69 people), NTB (47 people), West Java (19 people). The vulnerable categories from related data are Elderly (14 people), Mother and Child (25 people), Pregnant women (4 people), sick (250 people). Most kinds of diseases are Scabies and Hypertension.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet ended, the implementation of the total lockdown policy by the Malaysian Government on 1 - 14 June 2021 which was extended from 15 - 28 June 2021 by stopping all socio-economic activities except for the essential sector. Therefore, the return of PMIB to the area of origin must be carried out for laboratory examinations and quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The preparations for returning PMIB must be prepared properly, namely preparations from Malaysia to collect data and detailed information on the return plan (name, final origin/destination, arrival schedule, complete health documents, and travel documents), tightening health protocols to avoid the emergence of imported cases, laboratory and quarantine checks, PMIB repatriation to the area of origin, and budget readiness.

As stated by the Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Harry Hikmat that the problem that has occurred so far is in the matter of picking up, "Because of the long time they were picked up they needed shelter, we finally ran them to Mulya Jaya, the Trauma Center Protection House (RPTC), and other health centers," said Harry.

The Ministry of Social Affairs is ready to handle PMIB's return from Malaysia. Harry Hikmat also said that he would optimize the role of the Social Rehabilitation Center of the Ministry of Social Affairs in repatriating PMIB from Malaysia, "The role of the Ministry of Social Affairs, if later needed, is for people who are neglected, who receive the law, who have special needs, later our Centers will be used as shelters not only for the treatment of rehabilitation, but they can also get life insurance support in the context of the many days in the Center," explained Harry.

The PMIB repatriation plan is divided into two waves, the first batch will be held on June 24, 2021, as many as 145 people and a PCR test will be carried out first on June 21-22 2021. While the second batch will be held on June 27, 2021, as many as 148 people and will be carried out PCR test first on June 24-25, 2021.

The follow-up coordination meeting for the handling of PMIB's return from Malaysia was attended online with the Director General of Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and his staff, Head of Soekarno Hatta Airport, Deputy for Disaster Prevention of BNPB, Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Immigration, Angkasapura 2, Representatives of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

2021-06-19
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