Govt admits negligence in TKI case

Govt admits negligence in TKI case

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra
admitted on Sunday the government's negligence in dealing with
illegal Indonesian workers (TKIs) in Malaysia.

"In February 2002, we conveyed (to the relevant agencies) the
result of a joint commission meeting with the Malaysian
government, but it was not followed up," Yusril told Antara in
Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara on Sunday.

"The issue of illegal workers must be resolved immediately. So
far, we (the government) have not done much," said Yusril,
without revealing the names of the agencies that failed to follow
up the result of the joint commission meeting.

Hundreds of thousands of Indonesian migrant workers fled
Malaysia early this month, after Malaysia implemented a strict
new Immigration Act on Aug. 1, 2002 that seeks harsher
punishments -- caning, fines and imprisonment -- for foreigners
working illegally there.

The House of Representatives (DPR) and labor activists have
roundly criticized the government for its poor handling of the
returning migrant workers, dozens of whom, including children,
had died in squalid camps in Nunukan, East Kalimantan since the
end of July.

The government had allocated a total of Rp 30 billion to help
returning illegal workers reach their home provinces.

According to Yusril, Indonesia and Malaysia had agreed on Feb.
20, 2002, more than five months before the new immigration law
took effect, to settle the issue of illegal workers through a
joint agreement, but no follow-up was made on the issue.

Four Indonesian workers reportedly received two strokes of the
cane and were jailed for six months, while another had one stroke
and a six-month jail term. They are to be deported after serving
their sentences.

Amien Rais, chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), the country's highest legislative body, has criticized the
tough laws as inhuman and biased against Indonesians.

The massive exodus of Indonesian workers created severe labor
shortages in Malaysia, prompting the authorities there to lift a
ban on the recruitment of Indonesian construction workers in the
middle of this month.

Nearly 90 percent of construction workers in Malaysia are
Indonesians and half of them do not have valid work permits.

Meanwhile, the National Awakening faction in the House sent a
team to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday to seek political
backing from the ruling United Malays National Organization
(UMNO) to pardon TKIs already sentenced to caning.

The team is headed by faction chairman Rodjil Gufron, with
members including legislators Anshor Cholil and Ahmad Mudatsir,
as well as Ichsan Abdullah of the National Awakening Party's
legal affairs department.

"The National Awakening faction is seeking UMNO's political
support to pardon illegal TKIs because they only violated
administrative requirements and did not commit any crimes,"
Gufron was quoted by Antara as saying on Sunday.

The team also planned to meet with illegal TKIs believed to
still be in hiding.

"We hope to offer a comprehensive solution to the question of
illegal workers to the government," said Gufron, adding that his
team would also visit TKIs now living in squalid camps in
Nunukan, East Kalimantan.

Malaysian authorities were on the defensive on Saturday after
the caning and jailing of illegal immigrants drew concern from
Indonesia.

As a sovereign and independent nation, Malaysia has the right
to enforce laws on illegal immigrants to safeguard its own
interests, Bernama news agency quoted Minister of Defense Najib
Razak as saying.

Malaysia was firm about enforcing tougher penalties, under
amended immigration laws made effective on Aug. 1, but was not
biased against a particular country or group, Najib added.

"I hope no one will act irrationally in response to policies
implemented in our country," Najib said.