Jember regent Faida flew to Malaysia on Monday night to retrieve the body of a deceased Indonesian migrant worker, identified as Amintyas Wahyudi, from Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

“All the outstanding hospital fees have been paid for,” she said as reported by tribunnews.com.

The deceased allegedly owed RM7,000 (US$1,755) in medical bills to the hospital. The Manpower Ministry paid RM1,500 and the Jember Administration paid the remaining RM5,500.

The deceased had been kept in the hospital for more than 14 days as his family could not afford to pay off the medical debt.

Faida reportedly flew to Malaysia because she had grown impatient with the process of returning the body.

“Learning from this incident, we urge Jember residents who work abroad to register themselves with the Immigration Office. Bad things can happen at any time but it can be easily resolved if you are documented," she said, implying that Amintyas was working in Malaysia illegally.

Amintyas, who came from Klompangan village in Jember, East Java, allegedly died from a viral infection. His body has been received by his family. (nor/swd)