KJRI Johor Bahru Urges Legal Channels After 150 Migrant Returns
- 15 Sep 2026 20:20 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- KJRI Johor Bahru facilitated the repatriation of 150 undocumented Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia to Batam on September 15, 2026.
- Indonesian consular officials issued Emergency Travel Documents (SPLP) and provided special assistance to vulnerable returnees.
- P4MI Batam and consular authorities urged prospective migrant workers to use official government channels for overseas employment.
RRI.CO.ID, Batam - The Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, is intensifying its call for citizens to use official government channels when seeking work abroad, stressing that undocumented migration often ends in detention and deportation.
Staff member Irwan Adi Putra at KJRI Johor Bahru, explained that many Indonesians repatriated from Malaysia had been arrested and imprisoned for lacking valid immigration documents.
“They were completely undocumented. After being detained, we assisted them with temporary travel papers (SPLP) so they could return home,” he said in Batam on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
Irwan accompanied the repatriation of 150 Indonesians via Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal to Batam Center. The group included 100 men, 48 women, a 15‑year‑old boy, and a one‑year‑old girl.
Most were deported for overstaying visas or working without permits. Detention periods varied from one to three months, with two pregnant women and one toddler receiving special care before departure.
He emphasized that SPLP documents are not substitutes for passports and cannot be used to re‑enter Malaysia for work. “We have repeatedly reminded them that undocumented status does not guarantee a better life,” Irwan noted.
Upon arrival in Batam, the group was received by a joint team including the Migrant Worker Protection Service Post (P4MI), Immigration, and health authorities. They will undergo data collection and counseling before returning to their home regions such as Lombok, East Java, Medan, and Aceh.
Consular officer Leny Marliani added that repatriation is not merely an administrative process but part of social reintegration. She urged Indonesians planning to work abroad to register through official channels like local labor offices, BP3MI, or the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection.
“Compliance with legal procedures is not bureaucratic burden. It is the foundation of legal certainty, safety, and rights protection while working overseas,” Leny concluded. ***
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