Indonesia has successfully repatriated 232 of its citizens who were previously detained in Malaysia for immigration-related offences. The operation was led by the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru and carried out in collaboration with the Malaysian Immigration Department. This is part of a larger effort to help undocumented Indonesian migrant workers return home safely and legally.
The repatriation took place on Monday, July 21, 2025, and involved two groups of migrant workers. Both groups were transported by sea from Pasir Gudang International Ferry Terminal in Johor, Malaysia, to Batam Center Port in Indonesia’s Riau Islands. The first group had 83 individuals, including 61 men, 16 women, and four children. They departed at 10 a.m. Malaysia time. The second group, made up of 149 people, including 124 men, 21 women, and four children, followed one hour later.
A team of officials from the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the consulate in Johor Bahru accompanied the workers throughout their journey to ensure their safety and documentation. Once the groups arrived in Batam, they were received by Indonesia’s Migrant Workers Protection Service Post (P4MI), as well as officers from Batam’s Immigration and Health departments.
After arrival, the workers were transported to P4MI’s temporary shelter. There, their personal details were verified, and health checks were carried out as part of the reentry process. Leny Marliani, a foreign service officer from the Indonesian Consulate in Johor Bahru, said the operation was part of Program M. This is a two-year repatriation agreement between Malaysia and Indonesia that aims to deport about 7,200 undocumented Indonesian workers.
According to Leny, “So far, around 1,000 Indonesians have been deported through Program M.” The consulate in Johor Bahru alone has helped return 3,456 migrant workers as of this week.
She also reminded Indonesian citizens in Malaysia to always follow immigration laws and avoid overstaying or working without legal permits, which can damage their status and Indonesia’s international reputation.
Among the 232 workers repatriated, 83 had been held at the Kemayan Immigration Detention Depot in Pahang state, while 149 others were detained at the Putrajaya Immigration Office, according to reports from Malaysia’s state news agency, Bernama.
This latest operation follows another earlier case on June 26. At that time, three Indonesian crew members from the motor vessel KM Tembisan Agensi were handed over by Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla). The men had been arrested for crossing maritime boundaries without permission. After coordination between the consulate and Bakamla, the three men were officially transferred aboard the patrol vessel KN Tanjung Datu and brought back into Indonesian waters, where they were later reunited with their families.
This joint repatriation initiative highlights the strong cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia in handling undocumented migrants and ensuring safe returns for those detained. Indonesian authorities have urged citizens working abroad to always ensure they have legal documentation and stay updated on immigration policies in host countries.