Indonesia Repatriates 307 Citizens From Malaysia’s Johor to Batam

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia repatriated 307 of its citizens from Malaysia’s Johor to Batam, Riau Islands, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in one of the largest single-day repatriation operations facilitated through Johor by the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Johor Bahru.

The repatriation was facilitated by the consulate in cooperation with Malaysia’s Immigration Department (JIM) Putrajaya.

Of the total, 300 Indonesian citizens were immigration detainees repatriated under JIM Putrajaya’s Program M, a deportation program run by the Malaysian government. The remaining seven consisted of four fishermen from the Anambas Islands, two vulnerable Indonesian migrant workers, and a 10-year-old child, who were repatriated under separate cases, Antara reported.

The repatriation was carried out in three groups through Stulang Laut Port and Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal to Batam Center. The first group consisted of seven Indonesian citizens who departed Stulang Laut aboard the Citra Legacy 5 ferry at 7:30 a.m. local time. They comprised four fishermen, two vulnerable migrant workers, and one Indonesian child.

The next two groups were part of Program M and consisted of 300 Indonesian immigration detainees. They departed aboard the MDM Express 2 ferry, with 150 people leaving at 10:30 a.m. local time and another 150 at 2:30 p.m.

Overall, the repatriated group comprised 234 adult men, 72 adult women, and one 10-year-old boy. Before the repatriation, the consulate assisted with the issuance of Travel Documents in Lieu of Passports (SPLP), administrative procedures, and payment of immigration fines for Indonesian citizens who required them.

The Consulate General’s Integrated Protection Task Force (Satgas PPT) also accompanied the citizens throughout the departure process. The Consular Affairs Officer Jati H. Winarto said the experience of working or staying overseas without following proper procedures should serve as an important lesson for Indonesian citizens and communities in their home regions.

He urged Indonesians planning to work abroad to obtain information from official institutions, including district or municipal Manpower Agency, the provincial Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP3MI), and the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI).

Based on their regions of origin, the five provinces with the highest number of Indonesians in this repatriation were East Java, Aceh, North Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, and West Java. Throughout 2026 through the end of July, the consulate had facilitated the repatriation and deportation of a total of 3,920 Indonesian citizens from its area of jurisdiction. ***