Report: 700 Migrant Workers Die per Year
- Migrant Care
VIVAnews – The mysterious death of three Indonesian migrant workers originated from West Nusa Tenggara is only a small part of a big puzzle on the deaths of more Indonesian workers in the neighboring country. Director of Migrant Care, Anis Hidayah, said that an average of 700 Indonesian immigrant workers die every year in Malaysia.
The bodies were also returned to their families without proper examination. Meanwhile, the Indonesian government has never probed into the cause of death, and is satisfied by statements made by the Malaysian government.
“The law has clearly stated that the government must know the cause of death. Not all causes of migrant workers' deaths are clearly revealed. We have always emphasized the importance of a second autopsy to confirm the cause of death and no loss of organs,” said Anis on Friday.
The latest case of negligence of the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia, said Anis, is the death of three immigrant workers. The Indonesian Embassy did not check the condition of the bodies as well as questioning their deaths. If the victims were accused of being involved in a robbery, a legal action should have been performed.
Moreover, the Indonesian Embassy seemed indifferent of the condition of the bodies. “The care of sending the bodies home was done by a Malaysian funeral service company, not by the Indonesian Embassy. Families had to pay a fee of Rp13 million per body,” said Anis.
Anis said that only the local government care about investigation the workers’ deaths. In some cases, the local government formed a team and questioned the case to the Indonesian Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “However, they have received no response,” he said.
To date, the Malaysian Police shot dead three Indonesian workers namely Herman, Abdul Kader Jaelani, and Mad Noor on 25 March 2012 in Port Dickson, Malaysia.
According to the statements made by family members who witnessed the autopsy, several irregularities are spotted. A plastic bag was found in the head and several surgical instruments left inside the body.
