KL must be realistic about Indonesian workers: Kalla<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular and Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Vice President Jusuf Kalla has asked Malaysian authorities not to
\nabruptly deport Indonesian illegal immigrants, who comprise the
\nmajority of foreign workers in the neighboring country, as it
\nwould face a labor shortage.<\/p>\n
\"The presence of a great number of Indonesian workers in
\nMalaysia has a lot to do with the reality that the two countries
\nneed one another. Indonesia needs jobs while Malaysia needs
\nworkers. We shouldn't forget it. If the workers come back,
\nMalaysia itself will have troubles. Therefore, both countries
\nshould establish a common understanding on this issue,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Vice President made the statement when he was asked to
\ncomment on the reluctance of most Indonesian illegal workers to
\nreturn home following the end of the three-month amnesty period.<\/p>\n
Malaysian authorities have launched an enyah operation to rid
\nthe country of foreign illegal immigrants, who have been blamed
\nfor the increasing crime rate over the last few years. Malaysia
\ndecided earlier this week not to deploy a repressive approach
\nafter Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta agreed to handle the issue under
\nthe spirit of ASEAN.<\/p>\n
The amnesty program, which had been extended twice since it
\nwas offered on Sept 29, 2004, ended on Jan. 31, 2005. Malaysian
\nauthorities, who have recruited 65,000 police and civilian
\nvolunteers to crack down on the remaining 800,000 foreign illegal
\nimmigrants, including around 400,000 Indonesians, softened their
\nstance on the issue at the request of Indonesia, the Philippines
\nand the UN.<\/p>\n
Kalla added that Malaysian authorities should also be fair
\nthrough taking legal action not only against illegal workers but
\nalso against Malaysian employers who employ them.<\/p>\n
\"The (Malaysian) immigration law is fair as it carries various
\nsanctions against illegal workers and their employers. If illegal
\nworkers are whipped, their employers should receive a similar
\nsentence,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, manpower and transmigration minister Fahmi Idris
\nsaid after a coordination meeting here on Friday, that the
\namnesty period for foreign illegal workers in Malaysia had
\nalready expired and Malaysian authorities had deployed their
\npolice and civilian volunteers to workplaces suspected of
\nemploying illegals, to persuade them to return to their homeland.<\/p>\n
He said the coordination meeting was held to prepare \"the one-
\nroof service\", which will be made available at least eleven exit
\npoints from Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"Under the one-roof service, all illegal immigrants who want
\nto return to Malaysia will be provided with the necessary
\ndocuments, including passports and visas, upon their arrival at
\nthe exit points in North Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, Jakarta, Surabaya,
\nSouth Sulawesi and East Kalimantan,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Labor exporters called on the government to take firm action
\nagainst illegal workers and well-organized syndicates involved in
\nhuman trafficking into the neighboring country.<\/p>\n
Yunus Yamani, chairman of the Indonesian Labor Supplying
\nCompany Association (Himsataki) said the government should uphold
\nthe law and take action against the traffickers.<\/p>\n
He added that security personnel were also guilty of taking
\nbribes from the syndicates to allow them greater access to remote
\nareas to recruit prospective workers.<\/p>\n
Saleh Alwaini, president of PT Binawan Inti -- which supplies
\nskilled workers to the Middle East, Europe, Australia and the
\nUnited States -- said Indonesia and Malaysia should set their
\nemotions aside in coming together to consider the issue.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kl-must-be-realistic-about-indonesian-workers-kalla-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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