More than 200 Indian nationals languishing in Malaysian immigration detention centres have finally been repatriated.
The Indian High Commission in Malaysia said 219 Indian nationals were repatriated on a special Malaysia Airlines flight today.
"As a result of the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur's concerted efforts for (the) safe return) of Indian nationals help up in various immigration camps in Malaysia, 219 Indian nationals (are) being repatriated to Amritsar, Punjab today by special flight MH8722," it said in a post on Twitter.
It thanked Defence Ministry Ismail Sabri, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Deputy Federal Territories Minister Edmund Santhara, Immigration Department and police for their cooperation.
It also shared an interview of a detainee who had been held in one such detention centre for four months.
Many of those held in immigration detention centres are undocumented migrants, but some with legitimate travel documents too found themselves locked up due to circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.
Malaysia went into lockdown on March 18 to curb the spread of Covid-19, leaving foreigners, including tourists, stranded.
As they were not able to leave Malaysia, they ended up overstaying the granted visa period and were subsequently detained by immigration.
The situation became dire as Covid-19 outbreaks took place in the detention centres.
One such detainee is Indian national Zeawdeen Kadar Masdan, who was infected with Covid-19 and died in the Bukit Jalil Immigration detention centre. - Mkini
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