Malaysian actor asked to leave for visa abuse

JAKARTA (JP): Malaysian Nand Kumar Bhagwandas, 30, who is well-known for his role as Hans in the famed television serial Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Si Doel, the Schoolboy), has been asked to leave Indonesia for working illegally.

Spokesman for the Directorate General of Immigration, Hario Subayu, announced yesterday that Nand, who is in the country on a Business Visa, was working illegally as a disc jockey at the Star Dust discotheque and as an actor for the TV serial. He has allegedly being working in Indonesia without the required stay and working permits since 1986.

Subayu said Nand, who goes by the alias Adam, had initially been asked to leave Indonesia by yesterday morning. He added that the illegal alien had asked the authorities to give him one more week for preparations.

"His request is still being considered but -- for us -- the sooner he leaves the country, the better," the head of the deportation unit, M. Zaelani, was quoted by Subayu as saying.

Because he blatantly broke immigration laws, Nand's name has been registered on the immigration blacklist. He will no longer be allowed to enter Indonesia.

Nand, who holds Malaysian passport number A 5564134, had worked at the discotheque in downtown Kota, West Jakarta, since 1986. He was paid Rp 1.3 million (US$595) per month and given certain incentives and medical treatment allowances.

Over the past 12 months, Nand, upon the request of noted actor and producer Rano Karno, had taken part in nine episodes of the TV serial. Eight episodes have been aired by RCTI, Indonesia's first private television station.

"I had no idea about the rules here, which state that playing in such a film serial required a working permit," Nand said.

He said he only received transportation and meal allowances from Karnos Film for his role in the serial. (bsr)