KUALA LUMPUR - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilitated the return of 300 Indonesian citizens (WNI) and migrant workers (PMI) from Malaysian immigration detention, on Thursday.

In a statement, the ministry said those repatriated had previously been held at Immigration Detention Centers in Johor Bahru.

The return was carried out through a single debarkation point at the Batam Center Ferry Port in Riau Island.

The ministry further detailed that the repatriated group included 221 men and 66 women, among them five boys and eight girls.

The vulnerable groups included the elderly, pregnant women, mothers with children, unaccompanied minors, and Indonesians who had been in detention for more than six months and were facing financial difficulties.

The repatriation by sea was divided into two batches, with one batch departing from Pasir Gudang Port in Johor, Malaysia, and the other from Batam Center Ferry Port in the Riau Islands, Indonesia.

The arrival, return to their hometowns, and the rehabilitation and reintegration process were coordinated by BP3MI Riau Islands through P4MI Batam and supported by relevant ministries and agencies, including the Riau Islands Police, the Riau Islands Manpower Office, Batam Class I Special Immigration Office, Batam Port Health Office Class I, and other related institutions.

Indonesian citizens and migrant workers who were repatriated expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the Indonesian Consulate in Johor Bahru and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for facilitating their return.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urged the public to always comply with the law and regulations when planning to work abroad.