This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Jakarta. State-owned fertilizer company Pupuk Indonesia set off an Eid homecoming post at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya East Java as many travel to their hometowns to celebrate the major holiday Pupuk Indonesia's corporate secretary Wijaya Laksana said that the program aimed to support the government's eighth of the so-called "Asta Cita" goal The government seeks to increase tolerance between religious communities while also nurturing harmony with the environment "Pupuk Indonesia is partnering with other government-run businesses to set up a number of Eid homecoming facilities," Wijaya was quoted as saying in a recent press statement The post at Tanjung Perak Port will be set up on March 26-29 and April 5-8 People can get their health checked and free medicines as well as iftar meals for people to break their fast and entertainment facilities (photobooth stands).  Pupuk Indonesia partnered with the port operator Pelindo and the state-run bank BNI This is also part of the company's efforts to support the State-Owned Enterprise Ministry's joint homecoming campaign Pupuk Indonesia has also set up several homecoming posts in Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port as well as the Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan especially travelers who pass through Tanjung Perak Passenger Port can take advantage of the facilities provided by Pupuk Indonesia So travelers can experience a safe and comfortable homecoming," Wijaya said Cari English Despite Being Threatened with Extinction, Pangolins Continue to be Hunted and Smuggled TEKS › English›Despite Being Threatened with .. Iklan Despite Being Threatened with Extinction Pangolins Continue to be Hunted and Smuggled The pangolin scales are estimated to come from 3,000 individuals a significant number given their critically endangered status Audio Berita This article has been translated using AI. See Original Please note that this article was automatically translated using Microsoft Azure AI, Open AI, and Google Translation AI. We cannot ensure that the entire content is translated accurately. If you spot any errors or inconsistencies, contact us at hotline@kompas.id and we'll make every effort to address them TEKS HUMAS POLDA SUMUTPolice thwarted the smuggling of 987.22 kilograms of pangolin scales when they were about to be smuggled from Tanjung Balai City The scales are estimated to have come from 3,000 that were hunted from the forests of Sumatra Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Regional Police (Polda Sumut) Grand Commissioner Hadi Wahyudi said that the investigative team from the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the North Sumatra Regional Police was investigating the protected animal smuggling syndicate The team received information about a warehouse storing pangolin scales in Tanjung Balai City The investigators then moved to a house on Jalan Cermai in Datuk Bandar District "We searched the house and found evidence in the form of 18 sacks of pangolin scales," said Hadi They immediately arrested the warehouse owner The police also arrested one of the pangolin scales buyers Both are suspected to be part of a pangolin scale trading syndicate that controls networks in various regions in Sumatra They conducted their buying and selling transactions through social media The syndicate purchases pangolin scales from hunters and collectors in the field Also read: Prangolins increasingly threatened, protected wildlife traffickers arrested in North Sumatra Police thwarted the smuggling of 987.22 kilograms of pangolin scales when they were about to be smuggled from Tanjung Balai City The police are charging the perpetrators with Article 40 of Law Number 5 Year 1990 regarding the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Ecosystems The perpetrators face a maximum prison sentence of 5 years and a fine of up to Rp 100 million The Executive Director of the Indonesia Species Conservation Program (ISCP) said that the capture of almost 1 ton of pangolin scales shows that poaching of pangolins in the wild is still very rampant With an estimate of 1 kilogram of scales taken from three individual pangolins 1 ton of scales means that at least 3,000 hunted and dead pangolins were obtained "Such a large population is very important amidst the critically endangered conservation status of pangolins," said Rudianto Such a population is crucial given the critically endangered conservation status of pangolins Rudianto stated that pangolin hunting is happening along the tropical rainforest of Sumatra This syndicate exploits local residents to hunt pangolins They collect the scales and sell them in a multi-level closed trade to collectors North Sumatra has become one of the major collecting places for pangolin scales in Indonesia The high price of pangolin scales prompts smuggling syndicates to try all means to smuggle pangolins out of Indonesia The pangolin that lives in the forests of Sumatra is the species Manis javanica This ant- and termite-eating species lives in primary forests and a small part also lives in secondary forests Its status is only one level away from extinction in the wild The decline of nocturnal populations (active at night) also threatens the balance of ecosystems because their existence is crucial in controlling insect populations Many trees are fragile and prone to falling due to the unchecked increase of insects and termites' populations Combating the syndicate of hunting and smuggling pangolins can only be done by taking action against the big dealers they have been increasingly using social media to control their network As long as there is demand from the big dealers field perpetrators will find various ways to hunt pangolins Also read: Trading Hundreds of Kilograms of Pangolin Scales Causes Losses of IDR 72.86 Billion Jakarta - After two years of a tiresome legal process the Medan District Court ruled Meiliana (44) guilty of blasphemy and handed the Tanjung Balai resident a year and six months prison sentence for complaining about the noise level of a mosque’s adhan (Muslim prayer calling).  at Meiliana’s neighborhood in South Tanjung Balai when she protested against the sound level of the adhan from the neighborhood’s local mosque Al Maksun Meiliana decided to voice her protest to the mosque caretaker named Kasidik who followed up Meiliana’s protest to the people that had gathered in the mosque after a prayer.  After engaging in a dialogue with the people in the mosque the mosque’s Imam Harris Tua Marpaung and the management stopped by Meiliana’s house the arguments began to arise between Meiliana and the Al Maksun members.  According to Tempo’s interview with Harris Tua on Thursday Meiliana explained to the men that the mosque’s adhan made her ears hurt while pointing at the men.  The argument did not last long after Meiliana’s husband stepped in to be the mediator and offered his apologies to the mosque’s members the situation escalated again after Meiliana became furious with the adhan of Isha prayer and this is said to have triggered the anger of other residents Meiliana was taken to the local district office by the mosque’s members to avoid further escalation Meiliana issued a public apology in front of the Tanjung Balai headman Edy Muriadi but was met with shouting by local residents that were present.  She was then helped taken to the Tanjung Balai police headquarter to further conduct a mediation between the two parties since the situation had gone from bad to worse at the Tanjung Balai district office.  a riot broke when an unknown mass ransacked and ruined Meliana’s house which was followed by a highly tense night where the unknown group destroyed or vandalized several temples and viharas across the Tanjung Balai City Meiliana was named as a blasphemy suspect since March 2017 while the eight suspects of vandalism that were arrested each received only one to three months behind bars The judge’s sentencing corroborated to the public prosecutor’s indictment.  Meiliana’s attorney Ranto Sibarani said that he will appeal the judge’s verdict we will appeal since there was no evidence How could a criminal case come from no evidence,” said Ranto Ranto explained that the public prosecutor’s indictment could not be proven when he claimed that Meiliana had only questioned the volume of the Mosque’s adhan to a seller while purchasing an item on July 22 Meiliana’s attorney also questioned the prosecutor’s pieces of evidence presented in court which were items unrelated to the substance of the case; a sound amplifier and loudspeaker The other evidence he greatly questioned was a written statement signed by 100 Al Maksun Mosque members and the North Sumatra’s Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) stating that Meiliana had conducted a blasphemy.  “How about gather 100 people to make a statement that someone committed murder next time No other evidence but just the statement letter Added with the fatwa corroborating the accusation That’s it to sentence someone to prison,” assessed Ranto who questioned the legal proceeding of Meiliana’s blasphemy case House Criticizes Dedi Mulyadi's Proposal Linking Vasectomy to Welfare Eligibility Gov't Boosts Subsidized Housing for Journalists to 3,000 Units, Backlash Continues Human Rights Minister Backs Program Sending Troubled Students to Military Barracks Prabowo Says TNI Often Accused of Dictatorship, Yet Played Key Role in Reform Aceh to Implement Night Curfew on Students Halal Snack Polemic: Tests by MUI Contradict BPJPH, BPOM Findings on Pork Content Deadly Bus Accident Leaves 12 Dead in Indonesia, Police: Brake Failure Bappenas, FAO Host Training Workshop to Enhance Governance in Indonesia's Agrifood Systems Transformation Hasan Nasbi Cancels Resignation as Indonesia's PCO Head: 'I Am Loyal to the President' Vasectomy for Social Assistance? Dedi Mulyadi's Controversial Proposal Draws Mixed Reactions KPK Wants Immunity Right for Its Higher-ups Julian Assange Arrested in London After 7-year Refuge in Embassy U.S.Charges Julian Assange with Hacking Conspiracy with Manning Match-Fixing; Police Submit Suspects Files to Prosecutors KPAI Urges Police to Investigate Child Persecution Persecution; #JusticeForAudrey Petition Receives Over 1.8mn Signs Amien Rais: Elites Make 100-Fold Worse Hoax than Ratna Sarumpaet Amien Rais Testifies in Ratna Sarumpaet Hoax Trial Brunei Defends Tough New Islamic Laws Against Growing Backlash Prabowo Subianto Plans to Establish 100 People's Schools Soon List of Baeksang Arts Awards 2025 Winners Indonesia's Mount Semeru Erupts 3 Times This Morning, Sends Ash 700 Meters High Prabowo Claims 99.99% Success Rate for Free Nutritious Meal Program Prabowo Rejects 'Puppet President' Label, Denies Jokowi's Control What Are the Cheapest Businesses to Start from Home? Here Are the Top 10 Prabowo's Reason for Involving the Military in Food Matters KOSTCON 2025, the First Largest K-Drama OST Concert in Jakarta, to Take Place on August 2nd Prabowo: Bill Gates to Support Free Nutritious Meal Program in Indonesia What Is Worldcoin? Indonesia Suspends Crypto ID Platform Over Data Privacy Concerns Norway Condemns Israeli Blockade on Gaza Aid Amid Renewed Strikes Today's Top 3 News: List of Baeksang Arts Awards 2025 Winners, 7 Most Beautiful Banknotes in the World 2025 Conclave: How the Catholic Church Will Elect the Next Pope Budget-Friendly Vacation: Free Places to Visit in Penang Island Be aware that there are scammers active on WA pretending to be Indonesia Investments Indonesia Investments Report - March 2025 Edition Jakarta Composite Index (6,766.79)  +17.72  +0.26% GDP Growth Q4-2024 5.02% (y/y) Inflation March 2025 +1.03% (y/y) Central Bank BI Rate April 2025 5.75% Religious violence and intolerance flared up in Indonesia's North Sumatra over the weekend when an angry Muslim mob burned down (or damaged) 12 Buddhist temples in Tanjung Balai According to local authorities the mob was mobilized after an Indonesian woman of Chinese descent complained about the loud volume of the calls to prayer and Koranic recitals at the mosque that is situated in front of her house seven people were detained by Indonesian police on suspicion of attacking the temples Local authorities say that provocateurs on social media seriously aggravated the situation the angry mob mobilized after there emerged stories on social media that the Chinese woman threw items at the mosque and managed to interrupt the prayers South Tanjung Balai sub-district head Pahala Zulfikar says these stories are not true and were only aimed at aggravating the situation A police unit will now investigate who these provocateurs were The temple attacks occurred on Saturday (30/07) the situation was reportedly conducive as Indonesian police and military stepped up security at Buddhist temples to prevent similar attacks There were no reports of any casualties or injuries in these incidents Indonesia is a Muslim-majority nation where most Muslims practice a moderate form of Islam there the country also has a long history of religious violence Every year there are sporadic attacks on churches temples or certain streams within Islam (for example the Ahmadiyyah) Indonesia also has a history of anti-Chinese violence (this violence was particularly harsh during the chaotic early days of the Asian Financial Crisis) Most of Indonesia's ethnic Chinese community practice Buddhism There exist negative sentiments toward the ethnic Chinese minority in Indonesia because they are considered outsiders (even though most Chinese families have been living in Indonesia for generations) and are perceived as rich only a small minority within the ethnic Chinese minority have managed to establish grand business empires local authorities emphasize that the incidents in Tanjung Balai over the weekend are not related to anti-Chinese sentiments In response to the incidents in Tanjung Balai Indonesia's second-biggest Muslim organization emphasized the importance of greater religious and racial tolerance in North Sumatra Please sign in or subscribe to comment on this column North Sumatra - Two monasteries and five temples located in Tanjung Balai This incident was triggered by a misunderstanding The incident eventually got all under control at around 03:30 WIB after the Police mediate with the mob and kept on urging them to go home A woman with with the initials `M` felt disturbed by the sound of Adzan (calling of prayer) from a mosque M and the people at the mosque then quarreled; the police and the urban village authorities immediately tried to mediate them someone spread a false information via a broadcast in an instant messenger service The message broadcasted through the social media stated that the mosque was prohibited to sound any Adzan That message ultimately made some people in Tanjung Balai went on a rampage they came to M`s house to do some property damage but then they move on and multiply in number The false info spread so fast that it actually deviated from the fact of what is actually happened," stated Ayep when contacted by Tempo Ayep said that M is still secured in the local police office to avoid the possibility of mass fury not only several Buddhist monasteries and temples were burned because of the praying equipments such as incense and praying papers which are prone to fire A number of vehicles also got burned," said Ayep (This article has been corrected due to incorrect information in the previous article) Indonesia`s Startup Investment at Rp39.8 tn   Jokowi Keeps Low Profile on Social Media   International Coffee Day: Solo to Give 5,000 Cups of Free Coffee   Top 5 Indonesian Athletes in 2018 Asian Para Games   Sumatra Plans Restoration of Hundreds of Hectares of Peat Land Sperm Whale Ingested Plastic Waste; Serious Solution Required Ousted Casillas Speaks of Triumph over Juventus Hollywood Shaken as Trump Orders 100% Tariff on All Foreign-Made Films Jakarta-A lawmaker of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Eva Kusuma Sundari sees the need for the government to remain neutral in any religious violence Eva said that the government must help rebuild the burned monasteries and temples and provide indemnification for the destroyed building and cars in Tanjung Balai riot on July 20 must be arrested and prosecuted,” she said in Jakarta President Soekarno said that Indonesia should never differentiate between members of ethnic majority and minority groups Eva suggested the Religious Affairs Ministry to use its community development funds for de-radicalization programs which include dissemination of Islamic values of torelance and upholding the constitution The incident has reinforced the need for the government role in disseminating Pancasila values and the national pillars she has urged the community to understand that ethnic minority group must also respect their majority counterparts Indonesia has various religions and ethnicity an ethnic majority group in a region could be a minority in another region we may question a non-Muslim woman who protested against loudspeakers in mosque But the protest is not a crime,” Eva said Govt Launches Religious Conflict Early Warning System App GIDI Apologizes to Moslems for Tolikara Incident Influential Indonesian Ustad Resides in New York   Influential Indonesian Ustad Resides in New York England Sees Dramatic Rise in Attacks on Muslims Police have charged twelve people with robbery and vandalism after several Buddhist temples and monasteries were ransacked by mobs in the city of Tanjung Balai “We've charged eight suspects with robbery and four with vandalism,” North Sumatra Police spokeswoman Sr The incident on Saturday began when residents reportedly got angry at a woman of Chinese descent who they alleged protested against a mosque using loudspeakers to broadcast calls to prayers and recitals in front of her home in Tanjung Balai The situation quickly escalated as provocations against the woman circulated on social media Reports said at least five Buddhist houses of worship were damaged and burned down by the angry mob Rina said police have questioned more than 39 witnesses in the case “There could be more suspects as we are still questioning other witnesses,” Rina said The country's second-biggest Muslim group, Muhammadiyah, has called for greater religious and racial tolerance following the Tanjung Balai attacks The chairman of Muhammadiyah's youth organization said the riots were intolerable and could damage Indonesia's religious and ethnic diversity Twelve Buddhist places of worship were burned down or damaged by an enraged mob in Tanjung Balai No casualties were reported in the incident which also saw the destruction of eight vehicles The mob allegedly went on the rampage after a woman of Chinese descent reportedly complained about calls to prayers and Koranic recitals over loudspeakers installed at a mosque in front of her home South Tanjung Balai subdistrict head Pahala Zulfikar said He said the situation was further aggravated by provocation against the woman on social media "There appeared to be provocateurs who claimed that the woman threw items at the mosque expelled the prayer leader and stopped the prayers," Zulfikar said "None of that is true but the information has been spread widely." Calm has since returned to the area and residents have been able to return to their homes for the time being The police and members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) have stepped up security at all monasteries and temples to prevent similar attacks The buildings that were affected are the Ratna Monastery the premises of a social foundation and two other unnamed temples Antara Petir Garda Bhwana Jakarta - The Tanjung Balai Karimun Naval Base in Riau Islands Province thwarted a smuggling attempt of 45 boxes of illegal cigarettes from Batam City to Tembilahan could chase and stop a speedboat carrying 45 boxes of illegal cigarettes in Karimun District's Danai waters Conversing with local journalists on Monday he remarked that the illegal cigarettes comprised 15 boxes of OFO cigarettes the smuggling attempt could be foiled owing to the Pelalawan naval ship's early detection of a suspicious speedboat cruising in the Rukan Island waters on Saturday evening "The Pelalawan naval ship then ordered a team of Sea Rider Mahesa personnel to chase the speedboat They could finally secure the speedboat in the Danai waters," he remarked was escorted to the naval base in Karimun District for an investigation adding that the suspect transported the cigarettes from Batam to Tembilahan The navy's success in foiling the smuggling operation could save Indonesia from suffering material losses of up to Rp400 million The smuggling operation was often carried out at night to avoid surveillance and arrest all navy officers should continue to remain alert and be ready to fight crimes at sea The suspect and evidence of his crime had been handed over to the Karimun Customs and Excise Office for legal process the Dumai Naval Base in Riau Province foiled a robbery attempt by four pirates on MV African Halcyon while it was anchored in Malacca Strait's Dumai waters The pirates jumped into the sea and escaped on a speedboat as soon as the Dumai Naval Base's first fleet quick response team members arrived on the scene according to a press statement released by the Indonesian Navy The Malacca Strait remains vulnerable to incidents of robbery and piracy as well as other forms of maritime crimes including human trafficking and smuggling operations Editor's Choice: Top 10 Most Beautiful Countries in the World on Forbes' Radar Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News Indonesian Navy Lacking Foreign Submarine Detection Tools Prabowo Urges Eradication of Tin Smuggling in Bangka Belitung Aims to Attract 1.7 Million Foreign Tourists in 2025 Bali's Ngurah Rai Customs Intercepts Argentine Drug Courier Indonesian Navy Member Suspected of Murdering Female Journalist in Banjarbaru Two Indonesian Navy Members Get Life Sentence for Shooting Rental Car Boss Indonesian Navy Member Becomes Suspect in Shooting of North Aceh Resident Is Rempang Eco City Project Halted After Exclusion from Prabowo's PSN List Batam Fishers File Police Complaint Against Ocarina Beach Reclamation Project Bintan's Trikora Beach Contaminated by Black Oil Spills Batam and Bintan are the main islands in the Riau Archipelago located just kilometres from Singapore and Malaysia The northern part of Bintan and some parts of Batam attract middle-class Singaporeans and Europeans in search of sun But many Singaporean tourists who come to the islands are working-class men in search of sex Bargain-basement prices in the islands allow these men to escape from the grinding reality of life for the Singaporean working poor Indonesian sex workers charge about the same for a whole night as Singaporean sex workers charge for an hour are much more affordable too.According to popular wisdom these men come to the islands to ‘live like kings’ it’s enough that the sex is cheap and plentiful But others come in search not just of sexual gratification but in search of intimacy and a sense of power The sex industry in the islands relies heavily on its Singaporean clients Over a million Singaporeans visited the Riau Islands in 2004 almost half of all sex workers’ clients are from Singapore Newspapers report that there are around 20,000 sex workers in Batam alone In 2004 one NGO in Batam had over 3500 sex workers on its books An NGO in Tanjung Balai Karimun dealt with almost 1000 women in the same year Indonesia’s national criminal code does not prohibit sex work although it is illegal to participate in the trade of women and girls or underage males provincial and sub-district governments have introduced a range of regulations to monitor and restrict the sale of sexual services Most local authorities tolerate semi-legal brothel complexes (lokalisasi) modelled on centres established by the Dutch colonial government But the local authorities refuse to formalise the industry preferring instead to profit from its illegal status Every month prostitution bosses have to pay off local government officials and the army with money and women if they want to stay in business the navy is also directly involved in running a number of the brothels.Sex work also occurs on the streets and in unofficial brothels while Singaporeans and Malaysians prefer the karaoke lounges A party drug and dance scene that caters to a younger lower middle class group of Singaporeans has emerged alongside these venues The bars and karaoke lounges are replete with full-time sex workers as well as women who have sex with the men they meet in discos These women may sometimes receive payment in the form of cash although often the exchange is less tangible and involves drugs The sex tourists who frequent the karaoke bars and discos make a major contribution to the local economy of the islands hawkers and workers in countless other service industry occupations Incomes in these associated industries are cyclical reflecting the influx of tourists during peak periods like weekends and public holidays and the reduction in sex tourist numbers during quiet times like Ramadan and Chinese New Year They also follow the booms and busts of the industry as a whole many people recognise the economic benefit that the sex tourists have brought not only to those directly involved but to the community as a whole and especially to the economically marginal But after regional autonomy was introduced in 1999 local lobby groups opposed to prostitution drugs and gambling developed more leverage with elected officials and administrative policy-makers local religious groups lobbied successfully to have a major brothel complex closed down These kinds of campaigns played a part in the dramatic shrinkage of the industry after a boom in 2001 But they are less important than a range of external factors that have led to a drop in demand The sex tourism boom ended when the Singapore economy experienced a downturn in 2002 There were significant job losses in many industries leaving potential sex tourists with a lot less disposable income The SARS epidemic of 2003 also had a significant impact on their ability to travel The local Singapore sex industry has also witnessed a transformation with large numbers of Vietnamese and Chinese nationals working as illegal sex workers on short-term tourists passes The diversification of the Singapore industry has led to a shift in local price structures and reduced the ‘push factors’ that led men to cross the border into Indonesia.The sex industry in the islands then experienced an even more dramatic downturn in the second half of 2005 after Sutanto the new Indonesian national Head of Police issued an edict that gambling was no longer to be tolerated With the exception of floating casinos (charter boats that organise gambling on board) much of the gambling industry has been shut down The Singapore government’s plan to open a number of local casinos further threatens the symbiotic link between gambling and sex across the border The importance of gambling to the sex industry demonstrates the complex set of factors that drive cross-border sex tourism While good exchange rates and the low comparative cost of sex fuel demand the attraction of the islands is more than economic Singaporean working class men acquire much purchasing power which allows them to fulfil their fantasy of being a towkay (boss) they might be a taxi-driver or a day-labourer they can afford to drink expensive liquor and eat as much seafood as they like stay in hotels – and they do it all in the company of a young Indonesian woman.Hotels play a central role in this fantasy as sites of sexual service The men prefer to take the sex workers to a hotel than go to a lokalisasi because hotels provide greater privacy and serve to normalise the relationship A brothel environment implies that the woman is a prostitute whereas in a hotel she could easily be a girlfriend These girlfriends are sexually available all the time they provide pampering services such as massages and baths and they look after their ‘boyfriends’ by dressing them and and even spoon-feeding them but it plays a secondary role in these ‘weekend romances’.Sometimes these romance fantasies extend beyond the weekend Some Singaporean men find that their marginal economic position in Singapore makes it difficult for them to find marriage partners at home their wives’ access to education and paid employment challenges traditional views of women’s roles Long-term relationships and marriages with Indonesian women provide opportunities for a different kind of intimacy.Having a wife in the Riau islands offers working-class Singaporeans a chance to prolong the fantasy of living ‘like a king’ Even on their meagre working-class incomes they can afford to set their ‘wives’ up in a comfortable home but they know they can escape – even if just for a few days at a time – when they manage to get time off to cross the border and visit their wives or lovers Michele Ford  (michele.ford@usyd.edu.au) teaches about social activism in Southeast Asia at the University of Sydney where she runs the Department of Indonesian Studies Lenore Lyons (lenore_lyons@uow.edu.au) is the director of the Centre for Asia-Pacific Social Transformation Studies at the University of Wollongong Receive Inside Indonesia's latest articles and quarterly editions in your inbox © Copyright Indonesian Resources and Information Program (IRIP) 1983 - 2025. 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Asia-Pacific’s Leading Pediatric Hub - Surangkana Techapaitoon, M.D. | Time to Talk EP.36 Cardinals enter seclusion ahead of secret conclave to elect new pope Japan, China, South Korea, ASEAN enhance regional financial safety net Thai Parliament built for 20B, seeks 1B repairs after 5 years Health Ministry warns of deadly 'Deafness Fever' outbreak Authorities in North Sumatra intercepted 34 migrants who tried to leave Indonesia illegally for Malaysia on Feb 7 JAKARTA: It was pitch-dark when 28-year-old Andika Pramono and 33 other Indonesians waited at the shore in Tanjung Tiram North Sumatra in the wee hours of Monday (Feb 7) They were waiting for a specific instruction one they believed would lead them closer to their dreams of working in Malaysia for higher pay someone told them the boat which would bring them illegally to Malaysia had arrived “We were told to quickly go to the boat some 200m offshore But we didn’t know that the water was muddy,” Mr Pramono told CNA The water was only about 1.3m deep but the mud made it difficult for them to walk Some of the women who were below 1.6m in height were having difficulties some of the women might have died due to exhaustion," he said 30 of them managed to reach the wooden motorboat while four people stayed onshore as they did not dare to swim in the muddy water military and police personnel suddenly arrived All 34 migrant workers were detained but the boat captain managed to flee Attempts of Indonesians trying to leave for Malaysia illegally is not uncommon There are cases of Indonesians being smuggled to Malaysia almost every day Indonesia’s police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo reportedly said during a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Inspector-General Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani in late January when they discussed migrant workers issues Navy spokesperson First Admiral Julius Widjojono told CNA that in the last three months authorities intercepted at least four attempts of migrant workers trying to cross to Malaysia illegally There was one raid in Batam and three others in Sumatra Illegal journeys are also prone to boat accidents Between December last year and January this year there were at least five boat accidents resulting in the death of dozens of Indonesians head of government agency for the protection of migrant workers BP2MI Benny Rhamdani told CNA Why do people undertake these illegal and unsafe journeys It usually begins with a desire for better-paying jobs in Malaysia he completed junior high school but was forced to abandon his dreams of progressing to shipping school due to financial difficulties in his family he was a driver for a wedding decoration company earning 1.5 million rupiah (US$105) per month Living in North Sumatra’s provincial capital Medan the salary was below the provincial minimum wage of about 3 million rupiah But at least it was a fixed income and he could have some savings The pandemic meant that wedding receptions were forbidden and he lost his job he worked as a construction worker earning a daily wage of between 80,000 rupiah to 90,000 rupiah When he learnt that some of his friends were earning more in neighbouring Malaysia A friend then referred him to a man named Baasyir The latter told Mr Pramono that he could help him to go to Malaysia illegally by boat where he would work as a cleaner earning a monthly wage of RM2,000 (US$478) Mr Pramono paid Baasyir 4.5 million rupiah to make the arrangements Baasyir told him to go to a designated point in downtown Medan on Sunday where he was picked up by an unknown person driving a van By then he was seated in a minivan full of other passengers he did not know Mr Pramono also said that he did not know that they would be taken to Tanjung Tiram district They arrived at a forested area on Sunday evening after paying to go to Malaysia only to end up in detention adding that he borrowed the money from his mother Among the 34 people caught by the authorities on Monday is 32-year-old Tanjung Balai native Ismail He then returned to Tanjung Balai to visit his family he could not return as the border was shut Putrajaya imposed a temporary freeze in the hiring of foreign migrant workers continued to work as a fisherman in his hometown But since he only earned 2.5 million rupiah per month he decided to try his luck and cross over again illegally he got in touch via phone calls with a man he never met but claimed could take him to Malaysia The fisherman followed his instruction to go to Menara Lima Mosque After handing the person 1.5 million rupiah “I have never taken an illegal route before I thought I was going to die,” he told CNA after being questioned by the police There were also illegal migrant workers from beyond Sumatra Central Java to return to Malaysia as a domestic worker she went to Pahang through an agent and worked as a caregiver earning about RM1,500 per month The 51-year-old earns about 2.5 million rupiah every month operating a laundromat But she is only left with 200,000 rupiah after paying her employee and other expenses She contacted the same agent who arranged for her employment in 2018 The latter said that she could return to Malaysia illegally and work as a domestic worker The agent bought her an air ticket to Medan She was informed that all travel expenses would subsequently be deducted from her first three-month salary Once she arrived at Medan’s Kualanamu airport on Saturday evening She was taken to a lodging and asked to get ready by 6pm the following day I thought it was just water,” said Mdm Eliati when interviewed by CNA “I was confident though that I could make it because I kept thinking about my children and their needs.” All 34 boat passengers are now with the local police for questioning North Sumatra who oversees the waters where the group was found We need to catch the real perpetrators,” he said who would then return them to their hometowns “Because most of them don’t know those so-called agents And if they manage to get to Malaysia smoothly He added that the military conducts patrol every other day but it is hard to catch illegal migrants The intercept in the early hours of Monday was his first since he was stationed at Tanjung Tiram last year our patrol area differs from one day to the other  “That’s why we also don’t know if a fisherman is actually a spy informing the perpetrators of our presence,” he pointed out adding that they managed to intercept the group on Feb 7 thanks to a tip-off from locals Indonesian Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur Hermono told CNA that the smuggling of migrant workers can only be eradicated by strengthening the prevention and prosecution of the perpetrators “I suggest the formation of a task force that works intensively and continuously with the support of adequate personnel and budget,” said the diplomat who goes by one name The Indonesian government is currently also working to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to prevent illegal migrations and ensure workers rights the secretary general with the manpower ministry said when asked by CNA But whatever regulations authorities will sign and implement to low-wage workers like Mr Pramono in Medan Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us TANJUNG PIAI — The best thing to come out of the Tanjung Piai by-election in Johor more than three weeks ago was the reopening of the international ferry terminal a fishing village in the parliamentary constituency The Kukup international ferry terminal serves as a gateway to Tanjung Balai in Indonesia and is now being run by a Johor-owned company They told The Malaysian Insight the opening has given the local economy a boost as travellers throng the jetty to go Indonesia and by extension The taxi drivers also gushed about how the additional business has helped them with cost-of-living issues ferry passengers have started to use their service The terminal was closed from Sept 1 after the previous operator had issues with the Johor government but midway through the Tanjung Piai by-election Johor's First Minister Dr Sahruddin Jamal on Nov 7 said the operations at the Kukup International Ferry Terminal are now being handled by the Johor Public Corporation (PAJ) which also serves as a gateway to Tanjung Balai in Indonesia, handles an estimated 13,000 passengers a month It may have been a sop from Pakatan Harapan to woo voters but the local business community is thankful for it told The Malaysian Insight the jetty functioning again is a huge relief for businesses here “We are able to make money and it helps us as we struggled for two months,” said Mr Sanusi Business in Kukup dropped by 90 per cent when the terminal closed Mr Sanusi said Indonesians like to shop before heading back and traders here enjoy brisk business “My company was only able to employ two out of four workers when the jetty was closed because they couldn’t pay for extra staff,” said Mr Sanusi who said many parked there when they went on day trips to Tg Balai The car park operator made RM80 (S$26.13) per week instead of RM80 to RM100 a day when the jetty was operating Mr Sanusi said the by-election did bring some relief as his facility was used when Malaysia's Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad came for the grand speech at the bus and taxi terminal in Kukup “PH came and rented my parking space and they paid RM500 I got extra money to add to my basic income,” he said with a smile the operator moved temporarily to Puteri Harbour international ferry terminal in Iskandar Puteri visitors prefer to use Kukup to get to Tanjung Balai because of the shorter distance and convenience The return fee from Kukup to Tanjung Balai is RM125 while the fee from Puteri Harbour is RM126 The travel time from Kukup only takes one hour compared with two from Puteri Harbour said his business was recovering after two months of almost zero income “It is good that the jetty is back in business if not my monthly income is affected Two months without much income or customers,” said Mr Ang especially the youth see the reopening of the ferry terminal as providing job opportunities Maybe youngsters like us can be hired,” said Mr Zaharuddin Ithnin The reopening of the jetty also saw upgrades to the roads to Pontian Kechil There were clear signs of repair works to cover up potholes Tanjung Piai folk also hope that all RM19 million development projects announced by PH during the campaign period will be carried out even when the opposition won “I am waiting for the projects worth millions announced during the campaign period,” said Mr Ahmad Hamidi Mansor Barisan Nasional (BN) wrested back the seat by 15,086 votes BN’s Wee Jeck Seng polled 25,466 votes against the 10,380 obtained by PH’s Karmaine Sardini The by-election was called following the death of Dr Md Farid Md Rafik on Sept 21 from heart complications Todayonline.com and Today Online domains and apps are now part of 'Channelnewsasia.com' domain We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with TODAY to be fast BURSASGXHomeHighlightBy KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 10): Hartalega Holdings Bhd is buying a 60.57-acre piece of land in Labu Selangor for RM158.3 million to build additional glove manufacturing facilities (NGC 1.5), which will see its installed capacity increase by 19 billion pieces per year the group said its wholly-owned subsidiary Hartalega NGC Sdn Bhd has accepted the offer for sale from Kumpulan Tanjung Balai Sdn Bhd for the land TThe proposed acquisition will be funded by internal funds and/or existing credit facilities Hartalega said it is in line with the upsurge in demand of medical gloves across the globe due to the unprecedented global pandemic event Covid-19 has created higher safety and hygiene awareness across all industries the medical glove industry is expected to undergo a structural step-up in demand with rising awareness on the importance of hand protection,” it added It said the proposed acquisition will also enable the group to create greater value and earning potentials for its stakeholders as the land is located strategically adjacent to its existing NGC Sepang where all necessary infrastructure is readily available “The existing expansion in NGC Sepang is scheduled to be completed by 2021 the annual installed capacity will increase to 44 billion pieces “Coupled with the previous acquisition of 95 acres of land in Banting to build NGC 2.0 total annual installed capacity will increase to 95 billion pieces upon completion by 2027,” it noted The proposed acquisition is not expected to have any material impact on the net assets and the earnings per share of the group for the financial year ending March 31 shares in Hartalega were 54 sen or 2.82% lower at RM18.60 PONTIAN: The Kukup International Ferry Terminal here has finally reopened after being closed for about two months The terminal was closed after the state government terminated the agreement of the concessionaire We would love to keep you posted on the latest promotion