Malaysian students in Indonesia have been instructed to report daily to Malaysian authorities in light of the anti-government protests in Indonesia that have left six people dead.
Education Malaysia Indonesia (EMI) said it had informed the National Union of Malaysian Students in Indonesia (PKPMI) to submit the daily update to EMI and the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta, Kosmo reported.
EMI is the official representative of Malaysia’s higher education ministry in Indonesia. It has also asked PKPMI to ensure that all students prioritise their safety and avoid joining demonstrations.
About 1,000 Malaysians are currently pursuing their studies across several provinces in Indonesia.
The deadly protests, which began last week over financial perks for lawmakers, have forced Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto to make a U-turn over the measures.
AFP reported that while demonstrations had began peacefully, they turned violent after footage showed a police vehicle running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan on Thursday.
Protests have spread from Jakarta to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province, in the worst unrest since Prabowo took power.
More gatherings by students and protesters have reportedly been planned in several locations around Indonesia today.
