TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Nusa Tenggara's (NTB) Manpower and Transmigration Agency said that 3,310 Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) from the area had been deported by the Malaysian authorities throughout 2014.

The chief of NTB Manpower and Transmigration Agency, Wildan, said in Mataram on Wednesday that the amount of NTB TKIs deported by the Malaysian authorities spiked in 2014, up from the 2013 figure that stood at 2,447 people. "A total of 2,612 of the deported TKIs are males, while 518 are females," he said.

Wildan explained that 1,324 individuals among the deported TKIs hailed from East Lombok regency, while Central Lombok regency accounted for 889. A total of 310 come from West Lombok regency, while 177 and 154 hailed from Bima and Sumbawa regencies, respectively.

A total of 91 TKIs came from West Sumbawa, 90 from Dompu, 60 from North Lombok, while Mataram City and Bima City saw 19 and 16 people, respectively.

Wildan said that the Indonesian government was prepared to facilitate the return trips of these troubled TKIs, given the journey was made on land. NTB Provincial Government has also allocated some funds from its budget to cover the TKIs journey cost from the port of Lembar in West Lombok to their hometowns.

"Those who hail from the island of Lombok will be given Rp75,000 to cover the cost of their trip, while those originating from Sumbawa Island will be given Rp200,000 as they have to cross once more from Lombok," said Wildan, adding that some of NTB's budget could be used to cover the cost of the trips since those deported were NTB residents.

"They may accuse NTB's provincial government of human rights abuses if we fail to cover the cost of the trips," added Wildan.

NTB officials will continue to disseminate information on the proper procedure for applying for work abroad, he continued, so as to prevent more NTB residents from being deported due to their unclear immigration status.

"We have tried to ease and simplify the process for applying legitimate work permits for TKIs who wish to seek employment abroad, but many still fall victim to illegal agents who lure them with promises of better pay and conditions," said Wildan.

ANTARA