REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATAM -- Malaysian authorities have again deported 14 problematic Indonesian migrant workers through the Batam international port on the Riau Islands province on Friday, according to Batam social service official Febriana.

"They all had some problem. Some of them had entered Malaysia without a passport, some had an expired passport, and some others had not been paid by their employers," Febriana said on Saturday, March 7.

He noted that the deported workers will arrive at the Batam port at 11.40 am local time on Friday. "They belong to numerous areas in Java and West Nusa Tenggara. We are going to take their information and make sure they are safe before sending them back to their respective home villages," he remarked.

On February 26, Malaysia had deported 11 Indonesian seaweed farmers, who had been held for allegedly crossing the country's border illegally. The commander of the naval base in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, Lt. Col. Imam Hidayat, said the 11 farmers were handed over at the Sebatik Island on the Indonesia-Malaysia border.

The Malaysian marine police had handed over the farmers in Tawau in the presence of the liaison police officer of the Indonesian consulate in Tawau, the Chief of the Sei Nyamumk police sector, First Inspector Oman Purnama and the Sei Pacang naval post commander in Sebatik, Second Lieutenant Herry.

The deportation of the seaweed farmers, who were held for 10 days, had followed joint efforts of the police and navy personnel, along with the LO officer, of the Indonesian consulate in Tawau. Besides deporting the 11 farmers, the three boats they had used for seaweed farming had also been returned.

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