Indonesia Demands Explanation over Migrant Workers Shooting

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Johor Baru, Malaysia, requested an explanation from the Royal Malaysian Police on the matters of robbery done by three Indonesian migrant workers from Lombok. The Consulate requested the files from the investigation of the case that led to the shooting of the three migrant workers.

"One worker attacked the police by gunpoint, and the two others threatened using a machete," said the Head of the Consulate Functionary for KJRI Johor Baru Malaysia, Sri Nirmala, when contacted yesterday.

Wahab, Sudarsono, and Gusti Randa – the three migrant workers – were shot dead when confronting the Royal Malaysian Police in Ulu Tikam, Johor Baru, on January 11, 2014. The event occurred when the police was conducting a routine check for illegal migrant workers. All three victims have been brought back to Indonesia to be buried.

The executive Director of Migrant Care, Anis Hidayah, suspected that there was a mistake in the procedure that led to the violation of human rights in the shooting case. According to her, the three migrant workers who worked in construction and plantation should not be shot dead."They have to go through a trial to prove the criminal charges that they are accused of," she said.

Anis felt disappointed that the government is not taking the shooting of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia seriously. She opined that the government should be handling this case immediately.

Member of the Manpower Commission for the House of Representatives, Ahmad Nizar Shihab, urged the investigation of this case to the last detail. According to him, the Commission will summon the related Ministry and institution to explain the different shooting cases in Malaysia.

NURUL MAHMUDAH