BBC News Indonesia BBC News Indonesia See Profile Traditional migration of NTT to Malaysia's

'second home', history of 'cries and laughter' for decades 5 hours ago For some people of East Nusa
Tenggara, Malaysia is not just a place to make money, but has also become their second home.
Thanks to the traditional migration culture that has lasted for decades. The traditional migration of
NTT to Malaysia's 'second home', the history of 'crying and laughing' for decades for people in the
eastern island of Flores, NTT, when eating with family. Driven by British colonialism, the offer of
British-Malay citizenship, the Ganyang Malaysia movement, the revival of the Malaysian economy,
the Medan agreement, the "Nunukan tragedy" to various recent events, traditional migration has
provided "cries and laughter" for the people of NTT. Executive Director of Migrant Care, Wahyu Susilo
said, on the one hand, the traditional migration of the majority of the people of Flores to the Sabah
region, Malaysia, has boosted their economy and given birth to a generation of intellectuals and
clergy. But on the other hand, without any recognition, traditional migration fosters the practice of
the criminal act of trafficking in persons (TPPO) which causes exploitation, violence, and even death.
Based on data from the NTT Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), there have
been more than 700 PMI from NTT returning home in coffins, for several reasons, over the past nine
years. Or, on average, one to two coffins arrive in NTT every week. The majority of the victims came
from Malaysia with more than 90% being unprocedural or illegal workers, many of whom were
victims of TIP. The family mourns the bodies of Sister Laurentina and Pastor Emmy prays for the two
bodies at the cargo hold at El Tari Airport, Kupang. Sister Laurentina and Pastor Emmy prayed for the
two bodies in the cargo hold at El Tari Airport, Kupang. © BBC El Tari Airport Cargo, Kupang, NTT was
packed with dozens of people in mid-February 2022. They were waiting for the arrival of the bodies
of two unprocedural prospective Indonesian migrant workers (PMI), Yasinta Uba Wuyo and Sesilia
Siba Wara. Yasinta and Sesilia died when the illegal logging boat they were on from Tanjung Balai
Karimun sank in the waters of Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia on January 20, 2022. Apart from them, the
incident also left three other people dead, 19 survivors, and one person missing. BBC Indonesia
followed the process of delivering the two bodies to their hometown on Adonara Island, NTT, which
was carried out by Laurentina Suharsih, known as the 'cargo nurse and priest' at El Tari Airport,
Kupang. After traveling about 12 hours by ship and eight hours by car, we arrived at Adonara Island.
Sobs and cries echoed in the usually quiet villages of Nelelamawangi and Lamabayung Village at the
foot of Mount Ile Boleng, standing 1,659 meters above sea level. Cecilia's son, Nikolous Salam Bua,
29, said his mother was the backbone of the family. "Mama's last words were, 'Take care of all the
younger siblings, Mama left not long, only one year'. It turned out that she was gone forever," said
Nikolous. 'About 35% migrate to Malaysia' Families and neighbors attended the arrival of the bodies
on Adonara Island. Families and neighbors attended the arrival of the bodies on Adonara Island. ©
BBC Yasinta and Sesilia are some of the most residents of Ile Boleng District who have migrated to
Malaysia. Head of Hamlet 3 of Nelelamawangi Village, Sius Laga, said that almost all of his residents
have migrated abroad, the majority in East Malaysia. "There are 375 people who live here and almost
all of them have been to Malaysia. While currently there are at least 200 people in Malaysia, around
35% have migrated to Malaysia," said the 58-year-old man, last February. Head of Hamlet 3
Nelelamawangi Village, Sius Laga (left - wearing black shirt) Head of Hamlet 3 Nelelamawangi Village,
Sius Laga (left - wearing black shirt) © BBC The traditional migration of his village residents has
occurred since the 1950s and Sius Laga is one of those who once migrated to Sabah, the eastern
Malaysian region. After graduating from elementary school, Suis set foot in Malaysia for the first time
in 1974 - moving between jobs from chicken farms, drivers, to golf course guards. "The one who
invited me the first time was an uncle. We have family so we took them there, that's why we like to
go there. Then, one day's salary there can be around IDR 400,000 if we count it now," he recalls.
After traveling for more than 30 years and getting married in Malaysia, Sius and his family decided to
return to Adonara. Working in Malaysia enabled him to build houses. In fact, he said, Sius sent his
younger siblings to school to become lawyers, teachers and clergymen. Malaysia, said Sius, "provides
color and history for us