KL must be realistic about Indonesian workers: Kalla

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.