INDONESIAN Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono will return to Jakarta tomorrow to sort out the confusion that led to the visa cancellation of 147 of its workers who were bound for Malaysia to work in oil palm plantations.

Hermono told The Malaysian Insight that he will try his best to resolve the matter and get the workers here soon.

It was previously reported that 167 Indonesian workers were expected to arrive in the country. Hermono corrected this figure and said only 147 would be deployed as the rest still did not have their documents ready.

The visas of the 147 workers were cancelled due to confusion regarding its new single-entry stamp, which said “not permitted to engage in any employment or professional occupation in Malaysia”.

Hermono said the old system had an option where workers or students could declare that they are entering the country on a single-entry visa to study or work.

“Hence, why the people on the ground got confused and the visas were cancelled,” he said.

“I have suggested to the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta to return to the old system where people can declare if they are going into Malaysia to work or study on a single-entry visa.”

A spokesman for the Human Resources Ministry told The Malaysian Insight today that they did not have any details regarding the current situation and will update once they have sufficient information.

On Friday, Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan also cited confusion on the ground, which had resulted in the cancellation.

“This matter is being processed at our side. When we issue visas to enter Malaysia, it does not mean that they can work straight away,” he said.

“They must undergo mandatory health screening and only when they pass will they receive a stamp of approval (to work).”

Malaysia, the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, was set to welcome the first major batch of workers from Indonesia since it reopened its borders in a boost for the industry that is facing a shortage of more than 100,000 workers.

The labour crunch has cut Malaysian palm oil production, which relies on foreign labour, to multi-year lows when the world is facing a broader edible oil shortage due to the Russia-Ukraine war and export restrictions by top producer Indonesia.

The Indonesian workers from the island of Lombok in Indonesia were expected to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on a chartered flight.

But an Indonesian agency responsible for the protection of migrant workers cancelled the recruitment process and did not allow the workers to fly. – June 7, 2022.