16-1-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) A group of 172 illegal foreign workers found themselves in grave danger as they attempted to sneak back to Indonesia from Malaysia. Their ill-fated journey began when they boarded a stowaway ship at an illegal port in Selangor on January 9. However, their hopes of returning home were dashed as they encountered treacherous waves that washed them away, leaving them adrift at sea for over 28 hours. Luckily, their plight was discovered by vigilant Indonesian fishermen who promptly came to their rescue.
The incident unfolded in the waters around Satang District, Delhi, North Sumatra, where the exhausted and stranded workers were found. Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin, the deputy director-general (operations) of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), revealed in an interview with the Chinese-language Metropolis Daily that it is believed the expiration of their work passes motivated them to take this perilous journey back to Indonesia.
According to a report by Indonesian TV station “Kompas.TV,” these foreign workers resorted to taking boats to navigate around the island, evading Indonesian law enforcement officers, and patiently waiting for an opportunity to make landfall.
“Unexpectedly, the weather suddenly changed, and they were at the mercy of powerful waves, forcing them to drift helplessly at sea for more than 28 hours.”
Highlighting the urgency of the situation and the need for stricter measures, Hamid Mohd Amin pointed out that the APMM apprehended a total of 277 foreigners who had entered Malaysia illegally last year, including 104 Indonesians. In response, authorities have ramped up efforts to curb the large-scale influx of foreigners without proper permits.
