Govt admits negligence in TKI case<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra
\nadmitted on Sunday the government's negligence in dealing with
\nillegal Indonesian workers (TKIs) in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
"In February 2002, we conveyed (to the relevant agencies) the
\nresult of a joint commission meeting with the Malaysian
\ngovernment, but it was not followed up," Yusril told Antara in
\nMataram, West Nusa Tenggara on Sunday.<\/p>\n
"The issue of illegal workers must be resolved immediately. So
\nfar, we (the government) have not done much," said Yusril,
\nwithout revealing the names of the agencies that failed to follow
\nup the result of the joint commission meeting.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of thousands of Indonesian migrant workers fled
\nMalaysia early this month, after Malaysia implemented a strict
\nnew Immigration Act on Aug. 1, 2002 that seeks harsher
\npunishments -- caning, fines and imprisonment -- for foreigners
\nworking illegally there.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives (DPR) and labor activists have
\nroundly criticized the government for its poor handling of the
\nreturning migrant workers, dozens of whom, including children,
\nhad died in squalid camps in Nunukan, East Kalimantan since the
\nend of July.<\/p>\n
The government had allocated a total of Rp 30 billion to help
\nreturning illegal workers reach their home provinces.<\/p>\n
According to Yusril, Indonesia and Malaysia had agreed on Feb.
\n20, 2002, more than five months before the new immigration law
\ntook effect, to settle the issue of illegal workers through a
\njoint agreement, but no follow-up was made on the issue.<\/p>\n
Four Indonesian workers reportedly received two strokes of the
\ncane and were jailed for six months, while another had one stroke
\nand a six-month jail term. They are to be deported after serving
\ntheir sentences.<\/p>\n
Amien Rais, chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR), the country's highest legislative body, has criticized the
\ntough laws as inhuman and biased against Indonesians.<\/p>\n
The massive exodus of Indonesian workers created severe labor
\nshortages in Malaysia, prompting the authorities there to lift a
\nban on the recruitment of Indonesian construction workers in the
\nmiddle of this month.<\/p>\n
Nearly 90 percent of construction workers in Malaysia are
\nIndonesians and half of them do not have valid work permits.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the National Awakening faction in the House sent a
\nteam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday to seek political
\nbacking from the ruling United Malays National Organization
\n(UMNO) to pardon TKIs already sentenced to caning.<\/p>\n
The team is headed by faction chairman Rodjil Gufron, with
\nmembers including legislators Anshor Cholil and Ahmad Mudatsir,
\nas well as Ichsan Abdullah of the National Awakening Party's
\nlegal affairs department.<\/p>\n
"The National Awakening faction is seeking UMNO's political
\nsupport to pardon illegal TKIs because they only violated
\nadministrative requirements and did not commit any crimes,"
\nGufron was quoted by Antara as saying on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The team also planned to meet with illegal TKIs believed to
\nstill be in hiding.<\/p>\n
"We hope to offer a comprehensive solution to the question of
\nillegal workers to the government," said Gufron, adding that his
\nteam would also visit TKIs now living in squalid camps in
\nNunukan, East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Malaysian authorities were on the defensive on Saturday after
\nthe caning and jailing of illegal immigrants drew concern from
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
As a sovereign and independent nation, Malaysia has the right
\nto enforce laws on illegal immigrants to safeguard its own
\ninterests, Bernama news agency quoted Minister of Defense Najib
\nRazak as saying.<\/p>\n
Malaysia was firm about enforcing tougher penalties, under
\namended immigration laws made effective on Aug. 1, but was not
\nbiased against a particular country or group, Najib added.<\/p>\n
"I hope no one will act irrationally in response to policies
\nimplemented in our country," Najib said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-admits-negligence-in-tki-case-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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