Wisma Putra informed of detention of 17 Malaysian tabligh members in India

Wisma Putra has been informed of the detention of 17 Malaysian citizen tabligh members by Indian authorities over their alleged involvement in visa abuse.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kamarudin Jaffar said, at the moment, Wisma Putra was in the process of identifying the problems and finding out the real story behind the issue, especially from the Indian government.

"In the context of visa misuse, the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi reported that 17 Malaysians have been detained under at least three acts, namely, the National Disaster Management Act 2005, Foreigners Act 1946 and the Indian Penal Code," he said at a recent special media conference on the latest development concerning Malaysians stranded overseas today.

He said the ministry was very concerned and would ensure that those detained were in good condition.

“I hope that no one will politicise this issue, let alone link it to religious issues. This is because it will not only cause numerous misunderstandings among the people, but it can also complicate negotiations that Wisma Putra is working on with the government of India.

"Again, I would like to advise Malaysians who are abroad to always obey the laws of the government in their country of residence," he said.

Kamarudin also explained that 191 Malaysian tabligh pilgrims were being quarantined in India.

He said Wisma Putra, through Malaysian representatives in India was constantly monitoring issues of Malaysian tabligh pilgrims currently being quarantined in hospitals or special quarantine centres in several provinces in India.

"The Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi has provided consular assistance including providing personal care packages to some of the Malaysian tabligh pilgrims currently being quarantined," he said.

He also explained that the Indian government had yet to provide official information on the status of other Malaysians being quarantined, including information on the duration of the quarantine and follow-up actions that could be taken after they had completed the quarantine process.

- Bernama 

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