After two leaders meet
After two leaders meet
Friendship cannot solve all problems. Closeness between two
parties is not a guarantee that discord can be avoided.
The ups and downs of ties between Indonesia and Malaysia could
be cited as an example.
In recent days the relations between the two countries have
been strained due to the presence of (Indonesian) illegal workers
in Malaysia.
Malaysia has decided to take strong measures against the
illegal migrant workers and threaten to punish them by canning or
fining them.
Around 480,000 illegal workers have since returned home. This
has created a serious problem for Indonesia, which must allocate
at least Rp 30 billion to transport them home. While to train
them to be competitive in the local market would need at least Rp
350 billion.
On Wednesday, the Indonesian government asked that the
remaining 300,000 illegal workers be allowed to stay.
Legalization of the workers in Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur is in
fact not complicated. However, it is not that easy for the
Malaysian government to fulfill such a request.
The Malaysian employers really need workers from Indonesia,
but the authorities cannot allow illegal workers to remain in the
country.
This issue apparently prompted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
to fly to Bali to meet with Indonesian President Megawati
Soekarnoputri. The two-day meeting ended on Thursday.
The two leaders inked deals, including passport-free travel
for Indonesian and Malaysian citizens between the two countries
beginning Jan. 1, 2003. The deal stipulates that Indonesians who
want to enter Malaysia will no longer need passports, and the
illegal workers, who have been expelled, will be allowed to
return after obtaining proper documents from the Indonesian
government.
The deal is mutual for both countries. For Indonesia, the job
seekers will still have the chance to seek work in Malaysia,
while Malaysia will solve its need for workers for its informal
sector.
Mahathir acknowledged that his country needed Indonesian
workers, but they must enter Malaysia with proper permits.
It is the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration which is
responsible for issuing permits for job seekers to go abroad.
Therefore, the ministry must implement the bilateral agreement
properly.
Mahathir's message is that big problems could not be solved
merely by friendship.
He also hopes that the illegal workers' issue does not hamper
the two countries' good ties.
--Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta