Not Wreaths, Bodies of PMI Lotim Greeted by Pilkada Billboards

The year 2024 is marked by political momentum. After a few months ago we welcomed the presidential and vice presidential elections and the legislative. In the next few years we will be busy with the momentum of regional head elections (PILKADA).

Billboards began to line up, prospective regional head candidates put up various displays.

Billboards of prospective candidates fill public spaces. From homes to streets. Including the road to the house of the late Gafur who died in Malaysia some time ago. 

COVER: Repatriation of the body of the late Gafur to his hometown in Waringin Village, Suralaga District, East Lombok Regency

adbmi.org - There are dozens of billboards welcoming the arrival of Gafur's body in Waringin Village, Suralaga District. Each billboard displays each winning candidate. From the incumbent candidate to the newcomer. 

Meanwhile, there was not a single wreath as a form of condolence for the death of our foreign exchange fighter. 

Wreaths are a form of love and also a final tribute to the lives of those who have passed away. However, along the 1 kilometer road to Gafur's house, not a single wreath is displayed. Instead, the billboards welcome the upcoming 2024 Pilkada year. 

Special Photo: Billboards of prospective 2024 Pilkada contestants (ADBMI Foundation)

Gafur was a resident of Waringin Village, Suralaga District, East Lombok Regency, NTB who died while working as an Indonesian migrant worker in Malaysia. 

Head of the West Nusa Tenggara Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection and Service Center (BP3MI), Noerman Adiguna, said that around 34 residents had been repatriated due to death. 

"In total, up to now, around 34 NTB residents have been repatriated due to death," explained Noerman Adiguna when interviewed by the author at the funeral home, 08/09/2024.

The data was collected from January 2024 to August 9, 2024. 

"The late Gafur was a NTB resident that we repatriated today, a total of 34," he emphasized again.

Special Photo: Noerman Adhiguna, Head of BP3MI NTB

Meanwhile, Baiq Pademi, the wife of the late Gafur, accepted with an open heart that her husband had returned without a life. 

He said that this was destiny, "he (read-Gafur) left while working. He was very kind." 

It is known that Gafur left to become a migrant worker at the end of 2023. He had only been in Malaysia as an Indonesian migrant worker for 9 months. 

The late Gafur died after being shot with a firearm by Dayak Iban in a private oil palm plantation, in the Sepupok area, Batu Niah, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, on July 29, 2024.

Special Photo: Baiq Pademi (center), wife of the late Gafur (ADBMI Foundation)