RI hails Malaysia's amnesty offer for illegal workers<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat and Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia has deemed the amnesty offered by the Malaysian
\ngovernment to illegal migrants ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday a
\ngood start to further enhancing bilateral relations between the
\ntwo countries.<\/p>\n
Newly inaugurated Minister of Manpower and Transmigration
\nFahmi Idris said on Thursday the two countries needed close
\ncooperation to handle the planned mass deportation of Indonesian
\nillegal migrant workers in January.<\/p>\n
\"We will continue to enhance cooperation and coordination in
\norder to reduce the negative impact of the mass deportation,\"
\nFahmi said after a transfer of duty from his predecessor Jacob
\nNuwa Wea at the ministry.<\/p>\n
The amnesty was offered by visiting Malaysian Prime Minister
\nAbdullah Ahmad Badawi at a meeting with President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
An estimated 700,000 Indonesian migrants have been working
\nwithout the necessary documents. Malaysia has blamed the illegal
\nmigrants for a hike in the country's crime rate.<\/p>\n
The move has sparked criticism from labor activists and labor
\nexporters, who accused the Malaysian government of seeking
\njustification to expel the migrant workers since they are no
\nlonger needed.<\/p>\n
Most of the illegal workers have been employed on plantations
\nand construction projects and in electronics factories, but have
\nbeen denied access to health care and other facilities because of
\ntheir illegal status.<\/p>\n
Following his meeting with President Susilo on Wednesday,
\nBadawi said the amnesty would be granted to illegal workers who
\nreturned voluntarily to Indonesia ahead of Idul Fitri, which
\nfalls on Nov. 15.<\/p>\n
He said the migrant workers would not be allowed to reenter
\nMalaysia without the necessary documents.<\/p>\n
\"We called on illegal migrants to arrange their return
\naccording to Malaysia's prevailing regulations. We will provide
\nthem with transportation,\" Badawi said.<\/p>\n
Under the tough Malaysian immigration act introduced two years
\nago, illegal migrants are subject to 10,000 ringgit (US$2,632) in
\nfines per offense and\/or a jail sentence of up to five years,
\nplus caning.<\/p>\n
Badawi, however, did not say whether his government would
\npunish those who refused to return before Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Malaysia agreed to delay the massive deportation until January
\n2005, due to the recent legislative and presidential elections in
\nIndonesia and Idul Fitri and Christmas holidays.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has urged Malaysia to deport with caution the
\nillegal migrants to avoid human rights abuses, as happened in the
\npast.<\/p>\n
More than 70 people died of starvation and various diseases
\nand hundreds of other were hospitalized when the Malaysian
\ngovernment deported Indonesian illegal workers in 2002.<\/p>\n
Fahmi said he would set up a special team to help Malaysia
\nhandle the mass deportation so as not to affect ties between the
\ntwo countries.<\/p>\n
He said the special team would coordinate with Malaysian
\nauthorities and the Indonesian Embassy to ensure that the mass
\ndeportation was conducted in a smooth and humane manner.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian government has promised to provide pocket money
\nand sea transportation that will take the illegal migrants to
\nIndonesian seaports in Belawan (North Sumatra), Tanjung Pinang
\n(Riau), Tanjung Perak (East Java), Makassar in South Sulawesi,
\nNunukan (East Kalimantan) and Entikong (West Kalimantan).<\/p>\n
Indonesia has said that it would deploy several warships to
\nfetch the workers and transport them to seaports close to their
\nhometowns.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-hails-malaysias-amnesty-offer-for-illegal-workers-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}