BP3MI West Kalimantan Repatriates Elderly Migrant Worker After 30 Years Abroad
Pontianak (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Office (BP3MI) of West Kalimantan has facilitated the return of an elderly Indonesian migrant worker (PMI) from Pontianak who was left stranded in Malaysia, reuniting her with her family after more than 30 years abroad.
“The repatriation of a migrant worker with special circumstances, named Halifah Bakri, is the result of close collaboration and coordination between the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and BP3MI West Kalimantan, from tracing her family’s address and validating data to facilitating her return from Kuala Lumpur to Pontianak,” said the Head of BP3MI West Kalimantan, Ahmad Fadlin, in Pontianak on Wednesday.
Halifah Bakri arrived at Supadio International Airport on Saturday (1/8) after being repatriated from Malaysia. The woman, who had suffered a stroke, underwent inspection by CIQS officers before being taken to the BP3MI West Kalimantan helpdesk for registration, and was then escorted to her son’s residence in West Pontianak.
An emotional atmosphere marked the handover of Halifah to her biological son, Sofian, witnessed by the neighbourhood association chairman and family members. The reunion ended the family’s wait after losing contact with Halifah for more than three decades.
Ahmad Fadlin said Halifah’s return was the result of coordination between BP3MI West Kalimantan and the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in handling Indonesian migrant workers with special circumstances.
He explained that the process included tracing her family’s whereabouts in her home region, identity verification, and assistance throughout the journey so that Halifah could return home safely.
Meanwhile, Sofian expressed gratitude at finally being reunited with his mother after decades without news of her whereabouts in Malaysia.
He thanked the Indonesian Government, particularly the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and BP3MI West Kalimantan, for facilitating his mother’s repatriation back to her family.
For the family, Halifah’s return was not merely a journey back to her homeland, but a moment of restoring a mother to the embrace of her son and family after a wait of more than 30 years.