Jacob blames Hassan over illegal workers
Jacob blames Hassan over illegal workers
The Jakarta Post, Tampak Siring, Bali
Malaysia's refusal to sign a deal on Indonesian illegal workers
has left unfinished business between two ministers from the
Cabinet of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Disgruntled Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa
Wea was quick to blame the failure to settle the ongoing exodus
of over 300,000 migrant workers from Malaysia on Minister of
Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and his subordinates.
"I came to Bali because I thought we would sign a new
memorandum of understanding regarding the deportation of these
workers," Jacob, a former labor activist, told The Jakarta Post.
Jacob claimed to have done his work by helping the workers win
a guarantee that they could return to the neighboring country, by
sending two of his aides for talks with their Malaysian
counterparts.
"I really regret the decision not to pursue a deal with
Malaysia, especially on the deportation issue," Jacob said on the
sidelines of a meeting between Megawati and Malaysian Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Jacob said the issue of the illegals should have been solved
by the Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia, whom he said "had done
nothing to help the workers."
As a mark of his disgust, Jacob skipped bilateral talks
between the two heads of governments. He flew back to Jakarta
instead.
It was the second time in less than two months that the
outspoken Jacob has been involved in a polemic with a fellow
minister. He was accused by Minister of Trade and Industry Rini
Soewandi of discouraging investment by siding excessively with
labor.
Malaysia has enacted a tough new immigration act, which took
effect on Aug. 1, forcing illegal workers, mostly Indonesians, to
leave the country.
A foreign ministry official had previously expressed doubts
that Indonesia and Malaysia could sign any agreements on labor
issues due to Jacob's failure to come up with proposals.
Hassan looked more composed in responding to Malaysia's
stance.
"Both countries understand perfectly that the issue of migrant
workers is very sensitive, and we want to reach a comprehensive
agreement on these workers, not just the deportation issue, which
is actually underway," he told the Post.
The decision to wait for a new, comprehensive deal was taken
during the first meeting of a task force to deal with Indonesian
migrant workers led by Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare
Jusuf Kalla on Monday.
Officials said that the manpower ministry's secretary-general
attended the meeting on behalf of Jacob, who was at home in East
Nusa Tenggara.