Four Indonesian Migrant Workers from East Nusa Tenggara Repatriated from Malaysia as Deceased, Three with Illegal Status
Four Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have been repatriated from Malaysia in deceased condition. The four bodies arrived at El Tari Airport in Kupang on Monday, 9 March 2026, in the afternoon.
Of the four migrant workers, three are known to have departed illegally or through non-procedural means.
“Today, together with the cargo team at El Tari Airport Kupang, we again received four bodies from Malaysia to be repatriated to their respective home regions,” said Yonas Bahan, a Junior Legal Instructor at BP3MI NTT, following the body reception at El Tari Airport Kupang on Monday.
Yonas identified the four deceased migrant workers as Mathius Beding (37), a resident of Lewoleba Village, Nubatukan Subdistrict, Lembata District; Reni Anakapu (36), a resident of Jalan H Adam Malik 46, Waingapu, East Sumba District; Ferdinandus Bria (37), a resident of Naimana Village, Central Malaka Subdistrict, Malaka District; and Martha Tualaka (37), a resident of Toi Village, South Amanatun Subdistrict, South Central Timor District (TTS).
According to Yonas, Mathius Beding died from drowning on 3 March 2026 at approximately 09:20 local time in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. During his employment in Malaysia, Mathius worked in the refinery sector and departed through procedural means.
Meanwhile, Reni Anakapu died at Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor, Malaysia, on 7 March 2026 at approximately 03:47 local time. She died from an accident that caused brain injury. Her body was autopsied by Malaysian authorities.
Ferdinandus Bria died at Seri Manjung Hospital in Perak, Malaysia, on 1 March 2026 at approximately 23:29 local time due to pneumonia.
Martha Tualaka died at Kampar Hospital in Perak, Malaysia, on 2 March 2026 from severe bleeding during childbirth and retained placenta.
“So the three bodies from East Sumba, TTS, and Malaka have been taken to their hometowns. The body from Lembata will be sent tomorrow by the KM Tidar ferry,” Yonas explained.
Dozens of East Nusa Tenggara Migrant Workers Die in Malaysia
From January through 9 March 2026, BP3MI NTT has recorded 32 migrant workers repatriated in deceased condition from Malaysia. The dozens of migrant workers predominantly originated from Ende, Lembata, East Flores districts, followed by South Central Timor District (TTS).
Martha Tualaka’s older sister, Andriani Tualaka (46), added that her younger sister was taken to hospital late during childbirth. During her 11 years of employment in Malaysia, Martha worked at a small restaurant.
“She had been working there for 11 years and when she left, she went illegally. I last communicated with her last month only. Throughout this time we rarely communicated,” Andriani said in distress.