Indonesian Embassy Says Singapore Immigration Didn't Do Deportation, Only Ustaz Abdul Somad's Entry Permit Didn't Meet The Conditions

JAKARTA - The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Singapore confirmed that Ustaz Abdul Somad (UAS) was not deported by the local immigration authorities, according to news circulating on social media.

"I want to straighten things out, the immigration officer has stated that he was not deported, but his entry permit was denied to Singapore because he did not meet the criteria for foreigners to go to Singapore," said Head of the Coordinator of the Social and Cultural Affairs Function at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, Ratna Lestari to Antara when contacted in Batam, Tuesday. , May 17.

Ratna explained that the incident occurred when UAS was checking passports at the immigration entrance in Tanah Merah, Singapore. "So he has not yet entered Singapore and his entry permit has been refused," said Ratna.

Ratna admitted that after hearing the news, her party immediately coordinated with the Singapore immigration office. "That was conveyed by the Singapore Immigration, because we have coordinated with the Singapore immigration authorities and the information was obtained from the Singaporean side," he said.

Regarding the reason, Ratna said that the Singapore immigration office did not explain the reason why UAS was refused entry to Singapore.

"Because the permit for the entry of foreigners into a country is indeed the sovereignty of each country. We understand that, because we often refuse foreign nationals to enter Indonesia with several criteria applied by the Indonesian government. So the Singapore immigration office did the same thing, that if it is not considered to meet the entry criteria into Singapore territory, then the person concerned is refused entry," said Ratna.

The definition of deportation, said Ratna, is more if the person has entered Singapore and then withdrawn to be sent back to the country of origin. "So this has not yet entered Singapore and was refused permission to enter Singapore," he said.

While UAS's wife and children were also sent home, Ratna said that UAS could not get permission to enter, so her family followed.

"Because this is a family group and family head UAS, automatically everyone will join. Indeed, we understand this, but the clarification from the immigration office was that they were only denied entry permits from Singapore, not already in Singapore and then sent home," he said.

The world of social media was shocked by the statement by Ustadz Abdul Somad that he was deported by the Singapore Immigration when he was going on vacation there with his family and friends on Monday, May 16.

Arriving at Immigration, UAS was not allowed to enter by the immigration authorities while his wife and children had already entered. Because they were not allowed to enter, the UAS group finally left Singapore in the afternoon.