RI must learn from illegal migrant issue<\/p>\n
Philips Jusario Vermonte, Researcher, Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The issue of illegal workers has reached new heights over the
\npast few days. Reactions have been coming thick and fast not only
\nfrom our state officials, but also we have witnessed anti-
\nMalaysian protesters burning that country's flag in front of the
\nMalaysian embassy. Malaysia has also reacted irrationally by
\nissuing a travel warning to its citizens, urging them not to
\n\"travel to Indonesia or any country where emotions run high, with
\nor without reason\" (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 27).<\/p>\n
Obviously, the issue of migrant workers has become a
\ncontentious diplomatic thorn between the two countries. What we
\nhave seen so far has been overreaction from our side towards
\nMalaysia's determination to implement the new Immigration Act
\nsince earlier this month. On the other hand, the Malaysian
\ngovernment's decision to issue a travel warning certainly
\ncontributes to the escalation of the problem.<\/p>\n
It would seem that the issue justifies the concerns of
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members since 1998
\nthat Indonesia's economic and political crisis may bring serious
\nconsequences to the region. With little employment at home,
\nMalaysia is extremely attractive to workers from Indonesia. A
\nmodest estimate shows that there are at least 600,000 Indonesian
\nworkers in Malaysia, of which more than 400,000 may be considered
\nillegal workers.<\/p>\n
In light of the fact that the Malaysian government has given
\nfour months to the illegal workers from Indonesia to report and
\nleave the country, the complaints from some of our leaders
\nregarding the caning and sentencing of the illegal workers, as
\nprovided for by Malaysia's Immigration Act, are wide of the mark.
\nWorse, there is a widespread notion here that Malaysia should
\nease up on its tough policy on illegal workers on the grounds
\nthat Indonesia and Malaysia belong to the same Malay ethnic
\ngroup.<\/p>\n
Once again, Indonesia is cornered not by things that it has
\ndone, but by things that it has not done. Indonesia, as Vice
\nPresident Hamzah Haz admits, has not done much to solve the issue
\nof illegal workers. The issue has shown that the government does
\nnot have the capability of protecting the interests of its
\ncitizens by providing employment for them. One may point to the
\neconomic crisis and the severe consequences arising therefrom
\nthat we have been experiencing since 1997 to explain the growing
\nnumbers of Indonesians who have been forced to look for jobs
\noverseas.<\/p>\n
It is true that the economic crisis has increased the
\nunemployment level in Indonesia. But at least the Indonesian
\ngovernment should have been prepared for the consequences of the
\noutflow of Indonesian workers looking for jobs to our neighboring
\ncountry. Such anticipation could have been seriously effected
\neither bilaterally or multilaterally within the ASEAN framework,
\nfor example.<\/p>\n
By doing so, Indonesia would not be perceived as \"an exporter
\nof problems\". For example, Indonesia has been blamed since 1997
\nfor the haze problems that causes serious health problems in
\nSingapore and Malaysia. To a large extent, the problem of migrant
\nworkers as well as the haze stem from our own inability to
\nsatisfactorily prevent these problems from occurring.<\/p>\n
It is not the failure of our diplomacy, as one of our House
\nleaders has misleadingly put it, but it is a problem for us as a
\nnation. Criticizing Malaysia for its harsh measures towards
\nillegal immigrants clearly reflects our poor understanding about
\nlaw and the price that must be paid in implementing the law. The
\nMalaysian government has taught us a lesson that determination is
\nneeded in implementing laws. It is really a great lesson for
\nIndonesia, which is undergoing the transition to democracy. At
\nthe heart of democracy lies the principle of the rule of law.<\/p>\n
What is needed at this point is for the governments of
\nIndonesia and Malaysia to sit down to resolve the problem and its
\nconsequences properly. Malaysia must realize that Indonesia is
\nnow a more democratic country in which people are allowed to
\nspeak up.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the Malaysian government must separate the official
\nand unofficial statements from the Indonesian side. Members of
\nthe legislature or the Indonesian media, for example, may express
\nanger over the Malaysia's decision on illegal Indonesian workers.
\nIf the Malaysian government fails to understand this, then
\ndiplomatic relations can only get worse.<\/p>\n
The most important thing is that from now on Indonesia must
\nrealize that ethnic sentiment is not enough in this global era.
\nThe spirit of cooperation based on shared values should be
\ntransformed into action with a proper legal framework. Malaysia
\nseems to be ready for that. Are we ready for that too?<\/p>",
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