Indonesian Lawmaker Urges Immigration to Overhaul Foreigner Monitoring System in Bali

On August 30, Mafirion, a member of Indonesia's House of Representatives Commission XIII, called on the Directorate General of Immigration to fundamentally reform its system for monitoring foreign nationals in Bali. He stated that if issues involving foreigners keep recurring in Bali, it is not only the foreigners who need scrutiny but the oversight system itself, arguing that the state must not lag behind violations.

The statement follows a foreigner enforcement operation (sidak) personally led by Immigration Director General Hendarsam Marantoko in Canggu, Badung Regency, on the night of August 27. While praising this specific operation, Mafirion urged that oversight be conducted continuously rather than only in response to viral incidents.

He said checks should go beyond verifying passports and stay permits to examine where foreigners live, what work they do, what businesses they run, with whom they operate, and whether these activities align with their permits. In tourist hotspots with high concentrations of foreigners—such as Canggu, Kuta, Seminyak, and Ubud—he called for a data- and intelligence-based early detection system drawing on immigration records, public reports, and information from local governments, police, and accommodation providers.

He also urged that monitoring extend beyond administrative violations like overstaying to include misuse of stay permits, unauthorized employment, illegal business operations, improper documentation, and disturbances to public order. Since immigration cannot act alone, he called for strengthened coordination through the Foreigner Monitoring Team (Timpora), involving local governments, police, civil service police units (Satpol PP), village administrations, and communities.