Malaysia Deports 7,590 Indonesian Migrant Workers

Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (Antara) - Malaysia has deported 7,590 illegal Indonesian migrant workers, including tens of children through Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands province, so far this year, data show. Of the total, 1,106 were deported in January, 1,248 in February, 1,590 in March, 1,249 in April, 1,712 in May and 685 until mid June, according to the immigration border-cross post at Sri Bintan Pura international port in Tanjungpinang. "Today Malaysia deported another Indonesian citizens consisting of 249 men, 99 women and five children," Sony, spokesman of problematic migrant worker task force in Tanjungpinang, said on Friday. The deported immigrant workers are being accommodated at the Tanjungpiang transit house and trauma center before they are sent home through Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta. Lina, one of the deportees, said she was deported as her work visa had expired. "I worked in Malaysia for four years. At the beginning I worked as a legal worker for one year. But after my work visa had expired I used a traveler's passport," said Lina who was employed as a domestic helper and restaurant attendant. The Malaysian government is expected to deport problematic Indonesian migrant workers in large numbers ahead of the Lebaran post-fasting month festivities as it did in the previous years. (*)