10,000 Indonesians without passports can go home for Raya

KUALA LUMPUR: About 10,000 Indonesians in the country, without valid travel documents, are expected to return to their country in phases, to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, using the Travel Document In Lieu of Passport (SPLP).

Indonesian Embassy's Counselor for Information, Social and Culture, Widyarka Ryananta said the figure was an estimate as, on average, 200 to 300 applications were received by the Embassy, everyday.

"We expect the number of applications to increase when the date for Hari Raya gets closer," he told Bernama when contacted here Friday.

Widyarka said the Embassy received 4,753 SPLP applications in July and 2,708 in June.

He said SPLP was a document for Indonesians who did not have a valid travel document to return to Indonesia, without being detained by the Malaysian authorities.

Those with the SPLP would be sent home either through the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang or the ferry services in Port Klang and Johor Baharu.

He said those applying for the SPLP need to pay a compound, air fare or ferry fare and RM15 for the SPLP certificate.

Widyarka also expressed regret that despite such services, there were still those who were willing to risk their lives by using illegal ways to leave the country.

"We have come across many cases of boat tragedies when overweight boats capsize or those leaving illegally being captured by the authorities," he said. - Bernama