Mukhotib's Story: Keeping the Light Alive for Migrant Workers' Children in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - January 2005, Muhammad Mukhotib – an Indonesian citizen from Demak, Central Java – made a major decision in his life by migrating to Malaysia, working as a construction labourer in the neighbouring country. His hopes were simple: to improve his lot.

From his early days living in Malaysia, Muhammad Mukhotib interacted a great deal with fellow Indonesian migrant workers (PMI). He witnessed various social problems affecting his fellow Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.

Common problems experienced by Indonesian workers in Malaysia range from inappropriate employment contracts, wages not paid by employers, stories of fellow Indonesian migrant workers who are bewildered about how to report problems, to migrant workers’ rights that are often ignored.

“Even, not a few cases of Indonesian citizens dying without proper handling,” Mukhotib told ANTARA.

The bitter reality faced by his fellow Indonesians unsettled Mukhotib. He sought to do more to help Indonesians in difficulty.

“That situation stirred my heart to actively participate in helping resolve the various problems faced by Indonesian workers here,” he said.

He then followed the calling of his heart to contribute to larger humanitarian activities, dedicating himself to a framework of social work aimed at assisting Indonesian citizens who are abroad.

Mukhotib was active in communal associations, until he was elected as Chairman of the Paguyuban Warga Republik Indonesia (Perwira) and became Chair of Garda Kemanusiaan at the non-governmental organisation Permai Penang.

He was also directly involved in mentoring and social advocacy in coordination with the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Penang and Malaysian authorities.

Sanggar bimbingan

The spirit of Mukhotib’s service to the nation grew stronger when he saw many children of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia who did not have access to education.

From that concern, he rallied support from fellow workers, took the initiative to establish a mentoring institution under the NGO Permai Penang, as a vehicle to help children obtain their right to education and a better future.

The mentoring institution founded by Mukhotib and his colleagues took the form of a mentoring centre, now known as Sanggar Bimbingan Permai Kulim in Kedah, Malaysia.

Sanggar Bimbingan Permai Kulim was founded with a vision to provide access to learning and teaching for Indonesian children born in Malaysia to an Indonesian mother who lacks valid documents.

The absence of documents makes these migrant children struggle to access formal education.

Mukhotib and his colleagues’ mission is to establish educational institutions in various places as a follow-up to provide the right to education and to introduce aspects of Indonesian social and cultural life, with the ultimate aim of establishing an Indonesian school centre recognised by both the Indonesian and Malaysian governments.

Mukhotib’s effort to establish the mentoring centre was not easy. It all began in mid-2014, when the Permai Penang organisation held an “Permai Mengajar” programme out of concern for undocumented migrant children who could not access formal education.

At that time, educators were brought from Indonesia, namely male and female students from Universitas Indonesia who were undertaking practical community service abroad (Kuliah Kerja Nyata, KKN), to serve the community by providing education to Indonesian citizens’ children on Penang Island, Malaysia.

“Initially the programme only introduced letters, reading, writing, counting, Qur’anic recitation, as well as knowledge of Indonesian history and social culture,” Mukhotib explained.

Subsequently, in 2019, after the Permai Penang organisation obtained legal registration from Malaysian authorities with number PPM-006-07-04022019, Permai Penang looked into the programme’s implementation with education for equivalency Packages A, B and C.

After liaising with the Attaché for Education and Culture at the Indonesian Embassy (Atdikbud KBRI) at the time M. Farid Ma’ruf, then on 2 May 2021 the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia Penang inaugurated an official mentoring centre named Sanggar Bimbingan Permai Penang.

The centre is located at Learning Centre Pernai, 12G-2 Jalan Tun Dr Awang, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang Island.

Then in November 2021, Sanggar Bimbingan Permai opened a new location in Kulim, Kedah, named SB Permai Kulim, located at Lot 286 Kamlung Sungai Limau, 09600 Lunas Kukim, Kedah, Darul Aman, initiated and managed by Mukhotib.

After its inauguration, volunteers from the Indonesian Students Association (PPI) from various universities in Malaysia’s north and overseas KKN students from Indonesian universities regularly helped with the teaching process.

Currently, the number of students at Sanggar Bimbingan Permai Kulim is 20 children from families of gardeners and construction workers. The number of teaching volunteers is 3.

For migrant children, the mentoring centre is not just a classroom. It is a beacon that opens hope for a better future.

Tantangan besar

Mukhotib admits he faces many challenges in running each social activity, with limited funds as one of the main obstacles.

It is not uncommon for Mukhotib to have to seek funding independently to sustain the programmes and aid for Indonesians in Malaysia.

Without intending to complain, Mukhotib says that his dedication to the work requires a great deal of time and energy, often leading him to prioritise social activities over personal and family matters.

“Nevertheless, I carry out all that dedication with full sincerity and happiness,” he said.