Women held in Malaysia for 13 years insist they are ‘royals from Sunda Empire’

Fathia Reza and Lamira Roro were detained in 2007 after arriving in Malaysia with passports from the self-proclaimed kingdom in Indonesia’s West Java

They have refused to identify themselves as Indonesian citizens, rendering them stateless in Malaysia

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Image of Fathia Reza, 36, and Lamira Roro, 34, who claim they are princesses from the Sunda Empire. Photo: Facebook

Published: 2:00pm, 27 Jun 2020Updated: 3:22pm, 1 Jul 2020

Two women claiming to be “royal members” from a nation called the “Sunda Empire” in Indonesia’s West Java have been detained by Malaysia’s Immigration Department for the past 13 years, as they refuse to be identified as Indonesian citizens and are thus deemed to be stateless.

The duo, Fathia Reza, 36 and Lamira Roro, 34, first arrived in Kuching, Sarawak, in 2007, and are currently being held at the Melaka Immigration Depot, according to the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

“They are detained for violating Malaysian Immigration regulations and for carrying a Sunda Empire passport, which is not recognised by the Malaysian authority,” said Agung Cahaya Sumirat, coordinator for information and social cultural affairs at the Indonesian embassy.

The Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur and its consulate in Kuching, Sarawak state, said they had interviewed the women to clarify the status of their citizenship.

“But they refuse to acknowledge themselves as Indonesian citizens and were adamant in identifying themselves as citizens of the Sunda Empire,” Agung said.

“Our impression is that their belief in being a member of the Sunda Empire is what matters most [to them],” he added.

“The Malaysian immigration said their status is stateless,” said Agung, adding that the two women spoke English and communicated well.