TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the foreign representative held a meeting with Malaysia’s Sabah Immigration Director and the Sabah State Health Service on June 27, 2022. The Indonesian government also had a virtual meeting with the Sovereign Migrant Workers Coalition (KBMB).

The Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement explained that from the meeting, 18 Indonesian citizens reportedly died at the immigration detention facilities in Sabah throughout 2021 and 7 people died from January to June 2022.

The data was the same as the one held by the Indonesian representative which contains the name and cause of death based on the post-mortem results from the local hospital. The main cause of the high death toll was the delay in the repatriation of deportees due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The data was also consistent with the data error from the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta regarding the number of Indonesians who died at the detention centers in Sabah, which was not 149 as previously reported. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Malaysian Embassy had offered an apology.

In the meeting, the Indonesian government demanded a quick repatriation process of deportees given the low risk of the pandemic, and at the state's expense. The Foreign Affairs Ministry also urged improvement in the detention rooms, including the access to health and sanitation facilities.

Additionally, the Indonesian Consulate General and the Consulates in Sabah would increase the intensity of monitoring visits, logistical assistance for clothing, food, medicines, medical equipment, and PCR tests during the repatriation process. In the near future, the Indonesian Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur would visit Sabah and hold a meeting to immediately finalize the existing plans.

Previously, the KBMB’s 2022 report revealed the inhumane conditions at immigration detention centers in Sabah, Malaysia. The report found that many Indonesian citizens received inhumane treatment and even torture leading to deaths.

SUCI SEKARWATI

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