TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly dismissed reports that 10 million Chinese workers have entered Indonesia, and said that it was a false report. The Minister made a statement explaining the government's records on the number of temporary residence permits given to Chinese workers.
"It's a hoax. There are plenty of hoaxes nowadays. So here's what we want to ask now: if you say there are records of 10 million foreigners or one million illegal workers—show us. Because have apprehended more than 7,887 [illegal workers] and deported them," Yasonna said here on Thursday, December 29, 2016.
According to the Ministry's data, there are 31,000 foreign workers from China with temporary residential permit (KITAS) in Indonesia.
"Our data is different from the Manpower Ministry's, which recorded 21,000 Chinese nationals. Ours showed the number of KITAS holders, which is 31,000; meaning the cross-border transaction. Why is our data different? The 21,000 are workers, but they come and go. Our immigration data should be larger than that," Yasonna said.
Yasonna doubted rumors of 10-million Chinese workers invading Indonesia, because having that number of workers would create a visible effect among Indonesians.
"The total number of foreign workers here is about 70,000, so who is invading who?" Yasonna said.
President Joko Widodo has also denied this claim, and said there were only 21,000 Chinese workers in Indonesia. "Many are saying there are 10, 20 million Chinese workers in Indonesia. When did they make that calculation?" the president said on Friday, December 23.
Yasonna also dismissed rumors that said foreign workers are flooding Indonesia because of the visa-free policy.
"The visa-free policy is for the purpose of tourism; to increase tourist traffic, because Indonesia is a bigger country than Malaysia, but are receiving fewer foreign visits," he said.
Jokowi asserted that government continues to supervise the implementation of the free-visa policy. "When we have nine million foreigners entering Indonesia, then we must also see nine million exits," Jokowi said.
ANTARA
