February 20, 2025 | 06:40 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there is no sign of human trafficking in the shooting of Indonesian citizens in Tanjung Rhu, Malaysia.
“Thus far, there is no indication that they are victims of human trafficking, as it’s closer to human smuggling,” said the director of Citizen Protection, Judha Nugraha, on Thursday, February 20, adding that the migrant workers were living undocumented in Malaysia and were working in the informal sector, such as hairdressing.
The shooting that occurred on Friday, January 24, resulted in the deaths of two people. An Indonesian citizen with the initial B died on the spot, and the body has been repatriated to Riau Province. The other victim, Viktor Maruli Tua Simaremare, died after receiving treatment at Idris Shah Serdang Hospital. Viktor's body has been repatriated to North Sumatra.
Judha mentioned that two out of the three surviving Indonesian citizens have fully recovered. Meanwhile, the other is still being treated in the hospital, and their condition is improving. They remain in Malaysia for the time being. "They are still undergoing an investigation process by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP). The Indonesian Embassy has prepared lawyers to provide legal assistance," he said.
The shooting occurred as the Indonesian migrant workers were trying to leave Malaysia through illegal channels. Their boat was shot at by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
Previously, Malaysia claimed that the shots were fired upon resistance by the migrants. However, when questioned by the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the migrant workers claimed they did not resist arrest with sharp weapons.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Monday, February 10, stated that an investigation was underway, including the probing of six APMM officers involved in the shooting. Referring to a statement by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the results of the investigation will be conveyed to the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
Jihan Ristiyanti and Suci Sekarwati contributed to the writing of this article.
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