Malaysia deports 1,372 RI workers: Official

JAKARTA: Malaysia deported 1,372 Indonesian migrant workers from Pasir Gudang and sent them to Riau Islands in November, an official says.

“The troubled migrant workers were first accommodated at temporary shelters in Tanjung Pinang before they were sent back to their hometowns,” Tanjung Pinang immigration office chief Surya Pranata said.

Surya said the total number of Indonesian migrant workers deported from Malaysia in 2009 exceeded 32,000, down from 35,143 in 2008 and 34,642 in 2007.

“If the total is calculated from 2003 until Nov. 30, 2010, more than 230,000 Indonesian migrant workers have been deported from Malaysia,” he said.

Malaysia deported about 150 Indonesians per week, mostly for fleeing from employers, visa problems and other immigration violations, according to Antara news agency. — JP