KL, Jakarta agree to unite in fight against terrorism

KL, Jakarta agree to unite in fight against terrorism

Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia and Indonesia agreed on Wednesday to cooperate more
closely to combat regional terror networks as Jakarta sent its
top detective to Kuala Lumpur for talks.

The agreement on fighting terrorism came at a two-day meeting
of the Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Commission, a senior official
told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity.

"On terrorism and militancy, the two countries have agreed to
exchange information and to cooperate more closely through their
security officials," he said.

The meeting, the first of the joint commission since 1997, was
headed by Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar and his
Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda.

Malaysian police confirmed that Indonesia's top detective was
due here Wednesday for talks expected to focus on cooperation
against terrorism.

A national police spokesman said the head of Indonesia's
police detective unit, Inspector General Engkesmen Hilep, would
meet several top Malaysian police officers.

He declined to reveal details of Hilep's arrival or the issues
to be discussed, saying the meeting would be "kept secret".

However, reports in Jakarta quoted police chief Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar as saying Hilep would visit Malaysia, Singapore and the
Philippines to discuss anti-terrorism efforts including to seek
permission to question detained Indonesians.

Malaysian police have detained at least five Indonesians
suspected of having links to local Islamic extremists in the
Malaysian Militant Group (KMM) and other terror networks,
including Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda.

The government has suggested the KMM has links with militants
in Indonesia and the Philippines and together they hoped to
create Islamic states in the region.

Malaysia has also identified three Indonesian preachers as
responsible for religious and militant indoctrination within the
KMM.

One was said to be Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who denied during
police questioning in Indonesia last month that he was associated
with al-Qaeda but hailed bin Laden as "a true Muslim fighter."

The others were Mohamad Iqbal Abdul Rahmat, who was detained
here last June, and Reduan Hishammuddin better known as Hambali,
whose whereabouts are unknown.

Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population,
has come under international pressure to take action against
Islamic militants in the same way Malaysia, Singapore and the
Philippines have done.

Other points agreed at the Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Commission
meeting related to labor, illegal workers and the woes of
fishermen.

On labor, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed on the need for a new
mechanism for the recruitment of workers, the official told AFP.

Indonesians, who will be restricted to working as maids and
plantation laborers after recent riots by industrial workers,
would be exposed to Malaysian laws and culture before they begin
their work.

Malaysia on Tuesday rejected a plea by Indonesia to review the
new restrictions on labor.

The official said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
would visit Jakarta later this year, adding Indonesia would host
a meeting of the joint commission next year.

Separately, Malaysian police said they were stepping up
efforts to deport illegal Indonesian immigrants after the
government cut recruitment of workers from the neighboring
country.

"We are working harder now to send them back, we will continue
arresting more," a police spokesman told AFP.

Local media reported on Wednesday that six illegal Indonesian
immigrants drowned after jumping into a river while trying to
escape police, and that hundreds of squatter homes had been
demolished.

On Monday, more than 200 squatter homes, mostly housing
Indonesians, were demolished at two camps in the Klang Valley,
the Malay Mail reported.

The government says there are some 450,000 illegal immigrants
from Indonesia and it aims to deport about 10,000 every month.
It announced earlier this month it would tighten coastal security
in the narrow Straits of Malacca and along the northern Penang
coast line as it aims for zero illegal entry this year.