Quarrel with KL feared to affect workers<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The continuing row between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur could
\nincrease the difficulties faced by Indonesian workers in
\nMalaysia, a governor warned on Thursday.<\/p>\n
West Nusa Tenggara Governor Harun Al Rasyid told reporters he
\nwas afraid that Indonesian migrant workers would have to pay a
\nhigh price if the two countries failed to mend their fences.<\/p>\n
\"If the issue is not settled immediately, we are afraid it
\nwill adversely affect our migrant workers there,\" he said as
\nquoted by Antara in the provincial capital of Mataram.<\/p>\n
West Nusa Tenggara is one of the provinces that export labor
\nto Malaysia. Harun said most of the migrant workers from the
\nprovince were legal.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the political elite in Jakarta exercise
\nrestraint and avoid making statements that would only worsen the
\nalready strained bilateral ties.<\/p>\n
Despite calls for calm from President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nand Vice President Hamzah Haz, legislators in the House of
\nRepresentatives and People's Consultative Assembly have continued
\nto condemn Malaysia, whose strict Immigration Act has forced
\n480,000 illegal Indonesian workers to leave the neighboring
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
House leaders suggested on Wednesday that the government bring
\nhome all Indonesian workers in retaliation for Malaysia's issuing
\nof a travel warning advising its citizens to avoid Indonesia.<\/p>\n
However, Harun said Indonesia should be grateful to the
\nMalaysians and seek every avenue to prevent migrants illegally
\nentering the neighboring country.<\/p>\n
In stark contrast, Assembly Speaker Amien Rais continued to
\ndefy the calls for calm in the row with Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters in Jakarta on Thursday, Amien said
\nIndonesia had to stand up for itself.<\/p>\n
\"As a big nation, we should prevent Malaysia from belittling
\nus. This big nation should hold its head high. If we keep bowing
\ndown again and again, little Malaysia will just pat our head,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Despite his strong remarks, Amien denied he was fueling
\nantipathy between Indonesia and Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is not the party that has lit the fire, but rather
\nMalaysia. It is the caning issue that hurts and insults our
\nnation,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
However, he stopped short of criticizing other countries which
\napplied the same punishment.<\/p>\n
Amien insisted that the effort to mend ties should be
\ninitiated by Malaysia.<\/p>\n
As for the government, Amien said the country needed to make
\nimprovements in its labor export policy so as to expunge its
\nlong-standing reputation as an exporter of illegal workers.<\/p>",
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