KL sticks to its labor policy despite plea by RI
KL sticks to its labor policy despite plea by RI
M. Jegathesan, Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia Tuesday rejected a plea by Jakarta that it reconsider
a decision to cut down the number of Indonesian workers in the
country because of recent riots.
Malaysia would stick to its new policy of employing
Indonesians only as maids and plantation workers, said Malaysian
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.
He was speaking to reporters after a meeting here of the
Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Commission, which he headed along with
his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda.
"We take note of their request (to reconsider)" Syed Hamid
said. "But we will continue to employ Indonesians on the basis of
need for the plantation and domestic maid services (only). Our
policy remains."
Syed Hamid said that Indonesia asked Malaysia to reconsider
its decision because it would have a severe economic impact on
its fragile economy.
Labor officials say some three billion ringgit (US$ 789
million) is remitted out of Malaysia by foreign workers yearly.
Indonesians make up 566,983 out of a total of 769,566 legal
foreign workers in the country.
Malaysia announced the clampdown on the recruitment of
Indonesians after two riots by textile and construction workers
last month, saying it would now look to Thailand, Cambodia,
Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines and India to supply the
labor market.
In his opening remarks at Tuesday's meeting, Hassan expressed
Indonesia's regret over the riots.
He said his country was in the midst of shaping a new system
of recruitment that would involve the government and urged
Malaysia to support the plan.
"We hope we can unite and find solutions to our common
problems. We must overcome differences that exist," he said.
The joint-commission meeting, the first between the neighbors
since 1997, is due to end Wednesday.
Syed Hamid described the talks as cordial and fruitful, saying
both countries agreed to cooperate closely to fight terrorism,
militancy and extremism.
He said earlier in his opening remarks the scope of the
meeting was wide and included foreign workers, human smuggling,
terrorism, investment and trade, illegal immigrants and fishing
problems in the Malacca Straits.
He described ties between Malaysia and Indonesia as close and
said he hoped the meeting would provide a forum to resolve
existing problems.
"These problems must be carefully overcome through the joint
commission and not be exploited by any parties, including the
media, which will have a negative impact on our close ties," he
said.
Syed Hamid said both countries must preserve their solidarity
amid economic difficulties, adding "we are faced with new threats
from extremists and militant groups who can rock the region's
stability".
"To succeed in overcoming the challenges, we need to
cooperate," he said.