Labor activists protest Malaysia's strict policy

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Labor activists rallied on Wednesday in front of the Malaysian Embassy on Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta in protest of a strict immigration law that will take effect in that country on Aug. 1, and which will impact hundreds of thousands of Indonesians working illegally in the country.

Carrying banners, dozens of demonstrators urged the Malaysian government to treat the illegal workers fairly.

The banners read, "Malaysia is truly racist Asia", "Without migrant workers, the Malaysia government will collapse" and "Who do you think works on Malaysian plantations?"

The demonstrators came from several non-governmental organizations, including the Indonesian Migrant Workers Defense Consortium (Kopbumi), the National Network of Indonesian Migrant Labor, the Indonesia Legal Aid Association for Women Empowerment and Justice, and the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation.

"It is not fair if the Malaysian government just blames the workers. They must also take stern action against their law enforcers and immigration officers, who are involved in the flow of illegal workers to Malaysia. Otherwise, illegal workers will continue to flood into Malaysia," said Budi Wibowo from Kopbumi.

According to Budi, smuggling syndicates in Indonesia and Malaysia were responsible for the presence of illegal workers in Malaysia.

"Without the involvement of Malaysian law enforcers, it would be impossible for the illegal workers to sneak into the country," he said.

The demonstrators also called on Indonesia to fight for the protection of the workers.

"The government should not just keep silent, as the country has enjoyed money the workers sent home," shouted one protester.

The protesters demanded the government provide health care, logistical support and legal services for those migrant workers deported by Malaysia.

Since March, Malaysia, home to two million foreign workers, had deported about half of an estimated 600,000 illegal workers in the country.

Under the new law that takes effect on Aug. 1, however, Malaysia has extended the repatriation period for illegal workers until the end of August.

Under the new law, illegal immigrants and those convicted of harboring illegal immigrants face a mandatory six months in jail and up to six strokes of the cane.

Offenders are currently subject to a maximum jail term of five years, but usually escape by paying fines of less than 10,000 ringgit (US$2,632).