Artist shuns Malaysia over labor issue

Artist shuns Malaysia over labor issue

PEKANBARU, Riau: In a protest against Malaysia's handling of
illegal workers, most of whom are Indonesians, a noted local
artist Idrus Tintin said he would not accept an invitation for a
function at the Malaysian consulate here later this month.

Idrus was invited to attend the function to celebrate
Malaysia's Independence Day on Aug. 31, but said he would not
accept it.

"It's a show of my concern over the fate of Indonesian workers
expelled or caned by Malaysia," he said in the Riau capital of
Pekanbaru on Monday.

Idrus said he was previously a loyal sympathizer with Malaysia
as a neighboring Malay state for its success in improving its
people's welfare.

But now he feels extremely disappointed after Malaysia became
irate with Indonesian workers, both legal and illegal, after
intense rioting earlier this year, and decided to impose a harsh
law to evict most of them.

Idrus condemned the punishment of caning as "inhuman", while
criticizing Kuala Lumpur for failing to take stern action against
Malaysian brokers who, he alleged, recruited the illegal workers.
--Antara