Expulsion of migrants set for Nov. 29

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The deportation of hundreds of thousands of illegal Indonesian workers (TKI) from Malaysia will begin in a month, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Fahmi Idris said Thursday.

"The mass deportation will begin on Nov. 29 and I will go to Malaysia next week to discuss the detail of the process," Fahmi said here before attending a Cabinet meeting.

The government had prepared medical services, transportation, and shelters for the deported workers, he said.

There are currently about 700,000 Indonesians working illegally in Malaysia, and according to Fahmi, around half of them would return to Indonesia voluntarily.

Fahmi said he would leave for Malaysia on Nov. 2 to discuss details of the repatriation program. The two countries would hold a senior officials' meeting on Nov. 1.

Malaysia introduced a tough immigration law two years ago, threatening illegal workers with up to five years in jail or a fine up to US$2,632, plus a caning.

The Malaysian government is currently offering an amnesty for illegal workers to return to Indonesia on or before the Idul Fitri festivities on Nov. 15 and 16.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said his office expected about 350,000 workers would take advantage of the amnesty to return home.

The Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia was processing these workers for their deportation, he said.

"Due to the limited time period, we are also considering opening other offices for immigrant workers to process their documents, outside of the embassy and consulate offices," the minister said after a Cabinet meeting.

"We are also helping the workers to buy ferry and airline tickets to avoid abuse by scalpers," Hassan said.

Fahmi said on Wednesday the government has designated 12 arrival ports for workers deported from Malaysia.

Malaysia had originally planned to deport all illegal workers, including 700,000 Indonesians, in August but decided to delay it until after the Indonesian presidential elections.

Two years ago, a mass deportation caused a humanitarian disaster after thousands of Indonesians were stranded on Nunukan island in East Kalimantan without access to food and fresh water.

That exodus took place shortly after the immigration law was introduced in Malaysia.

However, many of the workers later returned illegally to the country.