JAKARTA: The Indonesian Foreign Ministry is seeking clarification from the Sabah Immigration Department following a report issued by the Sovereign Migrant Workers Coalition (KBMB) on the treatment of its citizens at detention depots in Malaysia.
The report said Indonesian detainees at the Immigration Detention Depot in Tawau, Sabah, were treated inhumanely and some had died.
On Tuesday, allegations in the report were denied by Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud.
The director for the protection of Indonesian citizens, at the ministry, Judha Nugraha said in a statement that the Indonesia consulate general in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau were scheduled to meet the Sabah Immigration director yesterday to seek an explanation on the allegations.
His side will follow up bilaterally with the Malaysian authorities if the information in the report is confirmed, he said.
Last Friday, KBMB members held a demonstration in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta regarding the allegations.
Khairul Dzaimee said the treatment of all detainees at
Malaysian Iimmigration depots, including Indonesians, was good and in accordance with the "Mandela Rules".
Early medical treatment was also provided by Malaysian Health Ministry staff stationed at all Immigration depots, while serious cases were taken to hospital.
Khairul Dzaimee, in a statement on Tuesday, said 18 Indonesian detainees died in Sabah in 2021 and six in 2022 while being treated in hospital.
They died while undergoing treatment for various diseases such as heart ailments, kidney problems, Covid-19, and pneumonia," he said.
Meanwhile, Antara news agency reported that the head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), Benny Rhamdani, will be in Malaysia in the near future to visit the depots detaining Indonesian workers.--BERNAMA