MALAYSIA DEPORTS 152 INDONESIAN MIGRANT WORKERS

Tanjungpinang, Nov. 22 (ANTARA) - A group of 152 Indonesian workers who were deported by the Malaysian government via Pasir Gudang in Johor, arrived at Tanjungpinang's Sri Bintan Pura port, Riau Islands, on Friday evening, a local immigration official said.

The group consisted of 139 males, 11 females and two children, Ispaisah of the Tanjungpinang immigration office, said.

"They were put on a boat at Pasir Gudang seaport, Malaysia, and the boat brought them to Sri Bintan Pura harbor, Tanjungpinang," Ispaisah said.

On Thursday evening, the Malaysian government also deported 146 Indonesian migrant workers who lacked the necessary documents. They consisted of 101 men, 44 women and a child.

"The problematic migrant workers are all in good health," Ispaisah said.

He said Malaysia was deporting hundreds of Indonesian workers every week. Before being sent to their respective hometowns, the migrant workers were accommodated in Tanjungpinang.

"In a week, up to three ferries carrying hundreds of deported Indonesian workers could arrive here from Pasir Gudang,"he said.