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RI-Malaysia hold coordinated patrols to tackle smuggling of illegal workers
The Riau Islands Water Police and the Royal Malaysian Police’s Marine Police Region II Johor Bahru conducted coordinated patrols along the two countries’ sea border in the Malaka Strait to prevent the smuggling of migrant workers from Indonesia to Malaysia.
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Indonesian Navy personnel stand on guard after intercepting a Vietnamese-flagged fishing boat in Natuna waters in the Riau Islands on July 21. (Courtesy of Tarempa Naval Base/File)
T
he Riau Islands Water Police and the Royal Malaysian Police’s Marine Police Region II Johor Bahru conducted coordinated patrols along the two countries’ sea border in the Malaka Strait to prevent the smuggling of migrant workers from Indonesia to Malaysia.
The coordinated patrol was officiated in a symbolic during a ceremony in Tanjung Setapa waters, Pangerang, Malaysia, on Tuesday, Riau Islands Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Saptono Erlangga said on Wednesday.
“There are a number of locations that have been used as points of entrance for illegal migrant workers from Indonesia,” Erlangga told The Jakarta Post.
There had been many cases in which illegal workers were smuggled to Malaysia through Penawar Bay and Tanjung Krisma, Erlangga said.
The smuggling issue has become a concern for authorities in both countries, especially given incidents of boats carrying workers capsizing in rough sea conditions, the spokesperson said. “The cooperation follows up the incidents that occurred in the past,” he said.
Read also: Fishermen, including from Indonesia, 'kept like slaves' in Taiwan
Meanwhile, Pangkal Pinang Catholic Archdiocese migrant committee chairman Pascalis Saturnus Esong said illegal migrant workers took illegal routes from Batam or Tanjung Pinang in Riau Islands aboard overcrowded ships two to three times a week.
“We know this because the victims reported this to us. This is not a secret anymore, however,” Pascalis said.
“We have reported this to the authorities, but it seems the system has not been improved,” he added. (afr/bbs)
