Calls for consular office in Nunukan after girl abducted
KOTA KINABALU: The Murut Culture and Welfare Association of Malaysia or Pertubuhan Kebudayaan Kebajikan Murut Malaysia (PKKMM) president, Raymond Ahuar, has suggested to the Malaysian government to establish a consular office in Nunukan.
This is to ensure that Malaysians who face immigration problems can resolve the matter more conveniently. Presently, the Malaysian consular office is located in Pontianak, which is quite a distance away from Nunukan.
Raymond made the suggestion in the light of a case involving a local Murut girl, who was abducted by an Indonesian national, but was then stopped by Indonesian authorities in Nunukan because she did not have the necessary documents to enter the neighbouring country.
The process of reuniting the girl with her family was made more difficult when the Malaysian consular officer was unable to travel to Nunukan due to financial constraint.
“There was reportedly no more financial allocation and all matters relating to its accounts have closed. This was very worrisome for the parents and family of the 15-year-old girl. Her parents are hoping the federal and state governments will take swift action to ensure their daughter can return home before Christmas,” said Raymond.
He added that the Indonesian immigration regulations require the presence of a Malaysian consular officer in Pontianak to act as a representative of the Malaysian government to secure the release of the girl at the immigration office in Nunukan.
PKKMM hoped the Ministry of Home Affairs will take the matter seriously by establishing a consular office in Nunukan or in the northern Kalimantan area, so that immigration issues or problems such as this could be resolved quickly and efficiently.