Migrant workers flee to Nunukan<\/p>\n
Rusman, The Jakarta Post\/Nunukan<\/p>\n
Fearing a crackdown by the Malaysian government, Indonesians
\nworking in Malaysia, both legally and illegally, have descended
\non Nunukan regency, East Kalimantan province, to obtain or extend
\nimmigration documents.<\/p>\n
The number of Indonesian migrant workers arriving in the
\nregency has reached 75 to 100 per day. The workers are returning
\nto Indonesian soil to arrange their immigration and employment
\ndocuments, before returning to Malaysia once the documents are
\ncompleted.<\/p>\n
The migrant workers are heading to Nunukan ahead of the
\nplanned deportation of illegal workers by the Malaysian
\ngovernment, slated for between November and December this year.<\/p>\n
Suyanto, a migrant worker from East Java province, told The
\nJakarta Post at the Tunon Taka Port he came to Nunukan to extend
\nhis immigration documents, although the documents were only set
\nto expire in two months.<\/p>\n
He said he rushed to Nunukan after being warned he would be
\ndeported if he failed to extend his immigration documents
\nimmediately.<\/p>\n
Suyanto said he was much more fortunate than other Indonesians
\nworking in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
He said he saw illegal and legal workers being chased,
\nintimidated and beaten by the Malaysian authorities, and told to
\nleave the country immediately.<\/p>\n
\"We were often intimidated when we were questioned by local
\npolice. They said we would receive harsh punishments if we did
\nnot leave Malaysia immediately,\" said Mahdi, an illegal migrant
\nworker.<\/p>\n
Kasmir Foret, an aid worker in Nunukan, said legal migrant
\nworkers had no trouble arranging their immigration documents in
\nNunukan, as they received assistance from their recruitment
\nagencies.<\/p>\n
The pressing problem concerns the illegal migrant workers, he
\nsaid. Illegal migrants who fail to secure immigration documents
\nshould be sent to Pare-Pare in South Sulawesi before being
\nreturned to their hometowns, but most refuse this government
\ninitiative.<\/p>\n
They insist on remaining in Nunukan, hoping to get their
\nimmigration documents processed so they can return to Malaysia,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's Deputy Home Minister Tan Chai Ho has estimated that
\nthere are 1.2 million illegal workers in the country, with about
\n700,000 of them believed to be Indonesians.<\/p>\n
A total of 111,893 illegal immigrants were arrested in
\nMalaysia last year -- 56 percent of them Indonesian -- and in the
\nfirst eight months of this year, 67,756 illegal workers were
\ndetained, Tan Chai Ho said as quoted by DPA news agency.<\/p>\n
Under tough laws introduced by Malaysia two years ago, illegal
\nmigrants face fines of up to 10,000 ringgit (US$2,630) per
\noffense, a jail term of up to five years, or both. They are also
\nsubject to caning.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/migrant-workers-flee-to-nunukan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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