Malaysia Fixes Management of Migrant Workers

Malaysia has decided to leave the affairs of migrant workers to the Home Ministry with the integrated Maid Online System (SMO) into One Channel System (OCS) continuing to be improved.

KOMPAS/MAHDI MUHAMMAD

Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abd. Kadir (third from left, front) met with leaders of a number of media in Jakarta, Friday (30/12/2022). The government of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim changed the management of migrant workers now to the Ministry of Home Affairs

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Malaysian government is looking to improve the management and protection of migrant workers in the country under the authority of the Home Ministry. It used to be managed by more than one institution.

The reform is expected to end the conundrum in the handling of migrant workers in Malaysia and provide protection for migrant workers, including those from Indonesia. The statement was conveyed by Malaysian Foreign Minister Zamry Abd Kadir when meeting a number of media chief editors in Jakarta on Friday (30/12/2022).

“The Malaysian Cabinet, which is currently led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has decided not to involve several ministries. There used to be two ministries. Now there is only one, namely the Home Ministry," he said.

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He said the change in the managing institution would not affect the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government of Indonesia on 1 April, 2022. He added Malaysia and Indonesia would cooperate to harmonize the already-drafted agreements for the sake of their smooth implementation.

The change in the managing institution was said to be in line with the commitment given by PM Anwar Ibrahim regarding the protection of migrant workers from Indonesia. In his meeting with Indonesian counterpart Retno LP Marsudi in Jakarta on Thursday (29/12/2022), Zambry said that migrant workers, including Indonesia’s nationals, played a significant role in the Malaysian economy.

"I guarantee that Malaysia will continue to work with Indonesia to ensure the protection of Indonesian migrant workers. I really understand [Indonesian] concern about its migrant workers in Malaysia,” he said (Kompas, 30 December 2022).

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

A number of illegal migrant workers who were victims of boat accidents were presented at the Batam Navy Base Command Headquarters, Riau Islands, Friday (17/6/2022). A total of 23 migrant workers were rescued, and the remaining seven are still missing.

Roseli Abdul, Malaysian Foreign Ministry’s director for Southeast Asia, who accompanied Zambry, said that the change in the migrant worker managing institution prompted a merger of the existing labor managing system into the one channel system. All migrant workers who come to Malaysia must be registered through the system.

Regarding the SMO, which Indonesia considers to be an entry point for illegal migrant workers, Roseli said efforts were being pursued for its improvement.

Adlan Mohd Shaffieq, acting Chargé d'Affaires of the Malaysian Embassy in South Jakarta, confirmed the integration of the contentious SMO into OCS.

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He said the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Malaysian Foreign Ministry and the related agencies had conducted a quarterly evaluation of all applicable systems to ensure the implementation of the MoU went ahead for its realization.

The relatively easy entry of illegal migrant workers into Malaysia has also been blamed on unscrupulous government officials, who give a hand to human-trafficking syndicates. This condition makes managing illegal migrant workers even more difficult.

According to Adlan, what is needed now is to strengthen cooperation among law enforcement officials and migrant workers-monitoring agencies. "It is necessary to strengthen the cooperation between the Indonesian Police and the Royal Malaysian Police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the Malaysian military to prevent this from recurring," he said.

Migrant Care director Wahyu Susilo said that the governments of the two countries should push for severe penalties for anyone or business entities found being involved in smuggling migrant workers.

This article was translated by Musthofid.