Humanitarian Effort Ensures Safe Return of Indonesians from Sarawak Ahead of Eid

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Hundreds of Indonesian migrant workers in Sarawak have been repatriated ahead of Eid al-Fitr, with the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching facilitating their return home.

A total of 419 Indonesian nationals were transported by five buses from Sarawak to the Indonesia-Malaysia border on March 12–13, as part of deportation proceedings carried out by Malaysian Immigration Department.

The initiative, announced by the Consulate in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, was aimed at ensuring that those who had completed prison sentences in Sarawak could reunite with their families in time for the holiday.

The group, consisting of 349 men and 70 women, was repatriated via the CIQS Tebedu checkpoint and handed over at the Entikong Border Post in West Kalimantan. Most of the returnees were originally from West Kalimantan, East Java, Central Java, West Java, West Nusa Tenggara, and other provinces.

Many of the deportation cases stemmed from immigration violations, such as lacking valid passports or work permits, while a smaller number were linked to offenses including gambling and narcotics. The workers had been employed across various sectors in Sarawak, including construction, services, industry, and plantations.

Indonesian Consul General in Kuching, Abdullah Zulikifli, emphasized that the provision of buses reflected the state’s responsibility to protect its citizens abroad. “This is part of our commitment to help Indonesians return home safely and with dignity. Having completed their legal and immigration processes in Sarawak, we hope they can now celebrate Eid with their families,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

He added that humanitarian considerations remain central to every effort to protect Indonesians overseas. “For many, this journey is not just about returning home; it is also a chance to start anew with their families. The state must ensure the process is carried out smoothly and with empathy,” Abdullah noted.

Upon arrival at Entikong, the returnees were processed by the Indonesian repatriation task force, which includes representatives from the Border Management Agency (BNPP), Immigration, Health Quarantine, local police, and the Migrant Worker Protection Service (P4MI).

Of the total, 378 returned independently to their hometowns, while 41 were temporarily accommodated at a shelter run by the Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP3MI) in Pontianak before continuing their journey.

According to the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching, Malaysian Immigration Department in Sarawak has deported 1,692 Indonesians so far this year, with an additional 18 repatriated directly by the Consulate through its own program. ***