ome 46 Indonesian nationals were caught in a recent raid by immigration authorities in Pahang State, Malaysia, the Foreign Ministry has confirmed.
The Indonesian nationals were apprehended for alleged immigration violations, the Ministry’s citizen protection director, Judha Nugraha, said. They comprise 19 men, 22 women, two children and three infants.
“All the Indonesians, including the children and infants are healthy [testing negative for COVID-19] and are currently in good condition,” Judha said in a written statement on Friday.
All of the Indonesians had been placed at the Kemayan-Pahang Immigration Detention Center on Friday after they were first caught in a raid on Dec, 14. They will later be deported by the Malaysian authorities.
The Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Johor Baharu is currently assisting the detainees with consular access, surveying and verifying their data, issuing travel documents in lieu of passports (SPLP) and providing legal assistance.
Read also: Malaysia to deport some 4,800 undocumented Indonesian workers in custody
Judha added that officials at KJRI in Johor Baharu had also visited Kampung Semaut shelter in Genting Highlands in Pahang to deliver 197 packages of groceries as the local authorities implemented movement control orders (PKPD) in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Malaysian news site Harian Metro previously reported that the 46 Indonesians had been charged under Malaysian Immigration Act 1959/63. Thirty-three of them were charged with not having proper travel documents while 11 of them were charged with overstaying their permits, and two for passport abuse.
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