Indonesia Facilitates Return of 133 Migrant Workers from Malaysia

RRI.CO.ID, Kuala Lumpur - The Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru has facilitated the repatriation of 133 Indonesian migrant workers and citizens from Malaysia, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, underscoring the government’s continued efforts to safeguard nationals facing legal and immigration challenges abroad.

In a statement received in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, January 29, the Consulate confirmed that the group comprised 101 adult men, 29 adult women, one boy, and two girls, Antara reported.

The deportees were drawn from several immigration detention centers: 70 from Kemayan, Pahang; 30 from Lenggeng; 15 from Langkap; 11 from Pekan Nenas, Johor; six from Tanah Merah; and one vulnerable individual housed at the Consulate’s temporary shelter in Johor Bahru.

An additional 15 vulnerable Indonesians were included in the process, consisting of three children, 11 elderly individuals, and one person suffering from kidney stones.

Most of those repatriated originated from West Nusa Tenggara (38 people), East Java (28), and North Sumatra (20). The deportation was carried out via the Allya Express 3 ferry, which departed Pasir Gudang Port, Johor, at 1:30 p.m. local time and arrived at Batam Center Port, Riau Islands.

Upon arrival, the deportees were temporarily accommodated at P4MI Batam for registration before returning to their respective hometowns. To ensure smooth processing, the Consulate issued 104 temporary travel documents (SPLP) for those lacking valid papers.

The Consulate also noted that among the deportees were 11 Indonesian crew members previously arrested for smuggling 7.5 tons of tin sand from Indonesia into Malaysia.

Their return was accompanied by officers from the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) and Consulate staff, reflecting heightened government attention to the growing issue of illegal tin sand smuggling and the need for extra protection for vulnerable nationals.

Consular official Jati H. Winarto stressed that the Consulate remains committed to expediting deportations for Indonesians who have completed legal proceedings in Malaysia.

However, he acknowledged that the lack of travel and civil documents among many deportees often delays the process. He urged Indonesian migrant workers to comply with Malaysian laws and regulations to avoid similar difficulties.

The repatriation was made possible through close coordination between Indonesian and Malaysian agencies, including Malaysia’s Immigration Department (JIM), BP3MI, P4MI, Immigration authorities, Port Health Office, Customs, and Police. This cross-agency collaboration ensured the deportation was conducted in an orderly, safe, and lawful manner.

Since the beginning of January 2026, the Consulate General in Johor Bahru has facilitated the deportation of 342 Indonesians, comprising 245 adult men, 92 adult women, two boys, and three girls. ***