Ahead of Independence Day, Indonesian Consulate in Johor Funds Deportation of Migrant Workers to Batam

The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Johor Bahru has facilitated the repatriation of 90 Indonesian citizens and migrant workers (WNI/PMI) from Malaysia to Indonesia. The repatriation was carried out via Stulang Laut Port in Johor Bahru to Batam Centre Port in the Riau Islands on Wednesday. Of the 90 individuals, 81 were deported from the Pekan Nenas Immigration Detention Depot in Johor. The deportees comprised 53 men, 26 women, and 2 boys. Given that all deportees were vulnerable Indonesian citizens, the KJRI Johor Bahru provided financial assistance for ferry tickets and seaport tax as a gesture of care and a gift of independence in conjunction with the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia. On the same occasion, the consulate also facilitated the repatriation of two Indonesian fishing boat skippers, from KM Hai Yang 3 and KM Baruna Jaya, who had completed legal proceedings in Malaysia for violating Section 16(3) of the Fisheries Act 1985 concerning boundary violations in the waters off Aur Island, Johor. Based on the ruling of the Kota Tinggi Magistrates’ Court on 6 July 2026, both skippers were fined 10,000 ringgit each, or a default sentence of five months’ imprisonment if the fine was not paid. The court also ordered the seizure of both vessels by the Malaysian government. Throughout the legal process, the skippers received legal assistance from the KJRI Johor Bahru’s retainer lawyer, Daud & Co., and their repatriation was expedited through coordination with the Johor State Immigration Department. Additionally, the consulate facilitated the return of four female migrant workers who had failed to secure employment and had been sheltered at the consulate’s Temporary Shelter, along with three Indonesian children who were returned to their families after completing immigration procedures in Malaysia. The majority of the repatriated individuals originated from North Sumatra (16 people), followed by the Riau Islands (15), Aceh (12), East Java (12), and West Nusa Tenggara (10), with the remainder from various other provinces. Deportation data indicated that the most common immigration violation was overstaying (55.5 percent), followed by residing in Malaysia without a valid permit (12.3 percent) and misuse of work permits (8.6 percent), while the rest involved narcotics abuse and other criminal offences. The repatriation send-off was led by the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia alongside the Consul General in Johor Bahru, accompanied by the consulate’s Service and Protection Task Force. The Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Raden Dato’ Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo, urged Indonesians seeking work in Malaysia to always use proper placement channels and comply with all immigration regulations. He also advised Indonesians in Malaysia without valid immigration documents to utilise the Migrant Repatriation Programme organised by the Malaysian government and to avoid using third-party services or middlemen. Consul General Sigit S. Widiyanto stated that during the July to August 2026 period, the consulate provided financial assistance for ferry tickets and seaport tax for vulnerable deportees as part of the Independence Day commemorations. He noted that as of mid-July 2026, the consulate had facilitated the repatriation of 3,115 Indonesian citizens and migrant workers.