Immigration deny NZ's anti-Lynas activist was badly treated

The Immigration Department denied allegations that Natalie Lowrey, an activist from New Zealand, was poorly treated while being repatriated to Bali, Indonesia.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Aloyah Mamat said, Lowrey well-treated while under the department's care after realising her name was among those blacklisted from entering Malaysia.

She said Lowrey was repatriated under Section 8 of the Immigration Act 1959/63 which provides for the immigration officer to expel foreigners according to its standard operating procedure.

"She was well-treated while waiting for AirAsia to manage her flight back to Bali. AirAsia is responsible for managing her return flight as well as her meals while awaiting for the plane," she said in a statement Wednesday.

According to Aloyah, Lowrey had initially refused to return to Bali and wanted to go to Sydney but she later decided to return to Bali on Monday via AirAsia flight QZ 551 at 9.45am.

According to international procedures, individuals denied entry would be sent back to the originating airport and not to another country, she said.

A portal had reported that the woman received poor treatment and was denied food and drinks while waiting for her flight to return to Bali, Indonesia.