170,000 illegal Indonesian workers still in Malaysia<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Around 170,000 illegal Indonesian workers were still working in
\nMalaysia while 310,000 others had returned home, Coordinating
\nMinister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla said here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia had hired Malaysian lawyers to help those
\narrested by Malaysia authorities.<\/p>\n
\"According to reports from the Indonesian embassy in Malaysia,
\n48 illegal workers have been arrested and tried in district
\ncourts but none have been caned,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kalla, speaking during a press conference, was accompanied by
\nMinister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra,
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and Minister of
\nManpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea.<\/p>\n
Jusuf Kalla said the total number of illegal workers in
\nMalaysia was recorded at 480,000. The number of legal workers was
\n620,000, giving a total of 1.1 million Indonesians working in
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Yusril denied reports that some illegal workers had been caned
\nbut admitted that some had been arrested and were facing legal
\naction.<\/p>\n
\"With the help of local lawyers who have been hired by the
\ngovernment, the illegal workers are getting legal aid to avoid
\ncaning,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, press reports from Kuala Lumpur said that five
\nIndonesians were among the first illegal workers in Malaysia to
\nreceive caning penalties. In addition, they all received jail
\nsentences ranging from six months to two years.<\/p>\n
Six more Indonesians were sentenced on Monday to six strokes
\nof the cane each and jailed for eight months, according to a
\nreport from The Star newspaper.<\/p>\n
Hassan has urged embassy officials in Kuala Lumpur and
\nconsular staff in a number of Malaysian cities to help repatriate
\nIndonesians and hire local lawyers to help workers awaiting
\ntrial.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid
\nslammed the government's handling of the crisis.<\/p>\n
\"The problem of Indonesian workers is the failure of
\nMegawati,\" Gus Dur said referring to his successor President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
He also regretted the government's failure to prevent
\nIndonesians from being caned.<\/p>\n
\"The government is negligent, and it should not be repeated
\nagain,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/170000-illegal-indonesian-workers-still-in-malaysia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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