10,000 INDONESIANS WITHOUT VALID DOCUMENTS MAY RETURN HOME USING SPLP

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- 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).

Aidilfitri is a Muslim celebration to mark the culmination of Ramadan, the
holy month of fasting.

Indonesian Embassy's Counselor for Information, Social and Culture, Widyarka
Ryananta said the figure was estimated since 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 for the month of July, the Embassy had received 4,753 SPLP
applications and another 2,708 for 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 (US$4.68) 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