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28 Indonesian athletes to be deported from Malaysia
Twenty-eight Indonesian athletes will be deported by Malaysian authorities for not holding any immigration documents to play sports in the country.
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On March 16, Malaysien authorities arrested 28 Indonesian athletes in Doris Wallace Bay waters off Malaysia's Sebatik Island. (Shutterstock/File)
T
wenty-eight Indonesian athletes will be deported by Malaysian authorities for not holding any immigration documents to play sports in the country.
"Last Friday, the [Malaysian] Court decided to deport the 28 Indonesian citizens," said the Foreign Ministry's Indonesian citizen protection director, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, on Monday morning.
Iqbal said the Indonesian Consulate General in Tawau had provided assistance and approached local authorities numerous times in a bid to have the athletes released and repatriated.
The consulate was currently busy issuing temporary travel documents for the athletes, he added.
"We hope they will be repatriated today, but it depends on the temporary document completion," said Iqbal, quoting a message from the Indonesian consul in Tawau, Sulistijo Djati Ismojo.
On March 16, the Marine Department in Sabah arrested the 28 athletes from Nunukan regency, North Kalimantan, in Doris Wallace Bay waters off Malaysia's Sebatik Island.
The athletes were supposed to play soccer and volleyball friendly matches in Kalabakan, Malaysia, following an invitation from a Malaysian sports organizer.
"The cost of repatriation will be borne by the invitee in Kalabakan," Iqbal added.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry has urged citizens to pay attention to immigration rules when working for a short time abroad. In February, Hong Kong authorities arrested two Indonesian comedians for not having documents to have a show there. (evi)
