KL must be realistic about Indonesian workers: Kalla

Rendi A. Witular and Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has asked Malaysian authorities not to abruptly deport Indonesian illegal immigrants, who comprise the majority of foreign workers in the neighboring country, as it would face a labor shortage.

"The presence of a great number of Indonesian workers in Malaysia has a lot to do with the reality that the two countries need one another. Indonesia needs jobs while Malaysia needs workers. We shouldn't forget it. If the workers come back, Malaysia itself will have troubles. Therefore, both countries should establish a common understanding on this issue," he said.

The Vice President made the statement when he was asked to comment on the reluctance of most Indonesian illegal workers to return home following the end of the three-month amnesty period.

Malaysian authorities have launched an enyah operation to rid the country of foreign illegal immigrants, who have been blamed for the increasing crime rate over the last few years. Malaysia decided earlier this week not to deploy a repressive approach after Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta agreed to handle the issue under the spirit of ASEAN.

The amnesty program, which had been extended twice since it was offered on Sept 29, 2004, ended on Jan. 31, 2005. Malaysian authorities, who have recruited 65,000 police and civilian volunteers to crack down on the remaining 800,000 foreign illegal immigrants, including around 400,000 Indonesians, softened their stance on the issue at the request of Indonesia, the Philippines and the UN.

Kalla added that Malaysian authorities should also be fair through taking legal action not only against illegal workers but also against Malaysian employers who employ them.

"The (Malaysian) immigration law is fair as it carries various sanctions against illegal workers and their employers. If illegal workers are whipped, their employers should receive a similar sentence," he said.

Separately, manpower and transmigration minister Fahmi Idris said after a coordination meeting here on Friday, that the amnesty period for foreign illegal workers in Malaysia had already expired and Malaysian authorities had deployed their police and civilian volunteers to workplaces suspected of employing illegals, to persuade them to return to their homeland.

He said the coordination meeting was held to prepare "the one- roof service", which will be made available at least eleven exit points from Malaysia.

"Under the one-roof service, all illegal immigrants who want to return to Malaysia will be provided with the necessary documents, including passports and visas, upon their arrival at the exit points in North Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, Jakarta, Surabaya, South Sulawesi and East Kalimantan," he said.

Labor exporters called on the government to take firm action against illegal workers and well-organized syndicates involved in human trafficking into the neighboring country.

Yunus Yamani, chairman of the Indonesian Labor Supplying Company Association (Himsataki) said the government should uphold the law and take action against the traffickers.

He added that security personnel were also guilty of taking bribes from the syndicates to allow them greater access to remote areas to recruit prospective workers.

Saleh Alwaini, president of PT Binawan Inti -- which supplies skilled workers to the Middle East, Europe, Australia and the United States -- said Indonesia and Malaysia should set their emotions aside in coming together to consider the issue.