Govt to pay for lawyers for workers in Malaysia

Govt to pay for lawyers for workers in Malaysia

Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Facing possible jail and caning, Indonesian workers caught in
Malaysia without proper papers may now hope for a fair trial as
the Indonesian government has set aside Rp 1 billion (about
US$112,000) to hire Malaysian lawyers to represent them.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Thursday
that the trials of illegal workers in Malaysia were ongoing.

"The government has allocated Rp 1 billion to hire lawyers in
Malaysia to help our citizens," Hassan told a media briefing
after a Cabinet meeting.

While several workers have been sentenced to jail or caning,
he said, "there has been no case yet of a caning being carried
out."

According to him, several dozen Indonesian workers had been
arrested so far. The number of illegal workers in Malaysia,
however, could be as high as 178,000, he estimated.

Reports have surfaced of Malaysian employers preventing
workers from leaving due to unfinished tasks or through fear that
a mass departure would upset their business.

Many Indonesians work in the construction industry or on
plantations, with others earning money as housemaids. The local
authorities have now threatened employers with jail and caning as
well.

Malaysia is expelling illegal Indonesian workers en masse
following a string of clashes with the local police and a surge
in crimes involving Indonesians.

Earlier this year, Malaysia cited an end of July deadline for
illegal workers to leave the country or else face jail terms or
caning. Workers holding return tickets have until the end of this
month to come back.

Malaysia's tougher stance prompted thousands to head for the
borders ahead of the deadline, and forced an unprepared Indonesia
to scramble in preparing for their arrival.

In Nunukan, East Kalimantan, alone, the Indonesian Red Cross
is expecting some 60,000 workers to come home over the next few
days until August 31.

The expulsion of workers has also put bilateral relations
under strain. People's Consultative Assembly Speaker (MPR) Amien
Rais called the caning "inhumane" and an insult to Indonesians.

Visiting Indonesian Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, however, played down the remarks.
Indonesia, he said, respected Malaysia's sovereignty.