Malaysian govt evacuates consulate family members<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Malaysian government has evacuated family
\nmembers of its consulate office in Pontianak, West Kalimantan,
\ndue to civil tension at the Indonesia-Malaysia border town of
\nSerawak, Antara news agency reported on Friday.<\/p>\n
The agency said that the evacuation was carried out upon the
\nadvice of the Indonesian provincial authorities after a series of
\nrallies in front of the consulate office in Pontianak, concerning
\nthe alleged ill-treatment of an Indonesian maid by a Malaysian
\ncitizen.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian foreign ministry's statement, distributed to
\nreporters in Kuala Lumpur, mentioned that nine family members
\nwere flown on Thursday to Kuching and Kuala Lumpur by a Royal
\nMalaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft.<\/p>\n
Malaysian foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said the
\nevacuation was a precautionary step taken as a response to the
\nlatest developments in the border town that may threaten the
\nsafety of the Malaysian consulate staff.<\/p>\n
\"A group of people had demonstrated at the consulate in
\nPontianak and we have been advised to evacuate family members of
\nstaff,\" he said, as quoted by Antara, while adding that the
\nsituation in Pontianak is so far under control.<\/p>\n
Albar further said the three officers remaining at the
\nconsulate will provide situational reports to the Malaysian
\nEmbassy in Jakarta and to Wisma Putra (Malaysian foreign
\nministry), while the consulate will stay open as closing the
\noffice would unnecessarily affect diplomatic relations.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian foreign minister also advised Malaysians to
\navoid visiting places in Kalimantan for their own personal
\nsafety.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue
\nany official statement over the incident. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysian-govt-evacuates-consulate-family-members-1447893297",
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