Gov’t to Enforce Stringent Health Protocol for Indonesian Citizens Returning Home

Minister of Foreign Affairs delivers a press statement after a limited meeting, Monday (11/5). (Photo by: Ibrahim/PR).

As part of the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has announced it will enforce stringent health protocol at all entry points for Indonesian citizens returning from abroad.

The health protocol to be in force is in accordance with a Circular of Minister of Health, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.

The Minister also said the number of Indonesian citizens returning from the neighboring Malaysia starting from 18 March to 10 May stood at 72,966 people, adding that the Malaysian Government has extended the implementation of conditional movement control order (CMCO) until 9 June.

“With the CMCO in place, a number of sectors have resumed its operation including industry, agriculture, trade, services, and construction sector,” the Minister said in a press statement, Monday (11/5).

As of 10 May, the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia, together with community organizations in Indonesia, has distributed 334,369 staple food packages to Indonesian citizens in Malaysia affected by the CMCO implementation, the Minister added.

Retno further said the number of Indonesian crew member returning home has reached 14,244 people via Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok port, Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, and the island’s Benoa port.

The Government, she added, also continues to repatriate a number of Indonesian citizens who are member of Jama’ah Tabligh in India.

“We continue to coordinate with countries whose citizens are also members of Jama’ah Tabligh in India for the handling of Indonesian citizens,” she said, adding that a number of Indonesian citizens have also returned home from several countries including Saudi Arabia (992 people), Kuwait (164 people), Algeria (391 people), Egypt (75 people), and Bangladesh (196 people).

The Minister also asserted that the arrival of Indonesian citizens from abroad will still take place in days to come, adding that what is equally important is coordination and cooperation between regions for the handling of Indonesian citizens to their respective hometowns. (FID/EN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas