T

he Riau Islands provincial administration has protested against what it regards as excessive scrutiny measures imposed by Singaporean immigration officials.

The officials have denied entry to as many as 1,689 Indonesian nationals seeking to enter via Batam last year.

“Hundreds of people were denied entry by Singapore despite having proper immigration documents. It is very subjective of Singapore. As Indonesian citizens, we feel offended being treated this way,” Riau Islands Vice Governor Soeryo Respationo said in Batam on Thursday.

“Why were they denied entry despite holding complete documentation, while those who come here are treated well? This should be brought to the attention of the two governments, we don’t deserve such treatment,” he said.

He said Indonesia gave “red carpet” treatment to Singaporean visitors. The Riau administration was reported to have submitted a protest to the Singaporean government through its consulate in Batam.

Soeryo said that based on a report from the Riau Islands Justice and Human Rights Office, as many as 1,689 Indonesian citizens from Batam and Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands, were denied entry to Singapore in 2011 on various grounds.

“The matter has been conveyed to the House of Representatives [DPR]. We have also spoken to the Singaporean government through its consulate in Riau Islands. We hope there will be an improvement in the future,” Soeryo said.

He signaled retaliatory measures if Singapore did not improve their reception of Indonesian citizens. “I hope they will listen to our complaint. We could do the same thing by denying entry to Singaporean citizens,” said Soeryo.

“There’s no reason for Singapore to bar Indonesians from entering the country, unless for exceptional reasons that we could understand, because when they come to Batam or Tanjung Pinang, we welcome them with a red carpet. Why do they treat us otherwise?” Soeryo said.

Titin, a Batam resident, recalled the ordeal she went through at immigration while entering Singapore recently.

“I had to show them my marriage certificate so I could enter the country, because my former husband is a Singaporean citizen. They also required me to show cash,” said Titin who visited Singapore to get medical treatment.

Raj Kumar, the Singaporean consul general in Batam, denied discrimination in immigration. “Singapore does not discriminate on grounds of race, citizenship, gender or religion. Singapore welcomes all visitors,” Kumar said in a release.

“The permit granted to visitors is under the authority of the ICA (Immigration Checkpoint Authority), based on entry requirements, including travel documents,” he said.