Malaysia, Indonesia agree to closer cooperation against terrorism
Malaysia, Indonesia agree to closer cooperation against terrorism
Sean Yoong, Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia and Indonesia agreed on Tuesday to improve exchanges of
information to counter the growing threat of terrorism in
Southeast Asia.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters
after meeting his Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirayuda, that
officials from both countries had "acknowledged the problem" of
terrorism.
"We also agreed that we should have a more effective exchange
of information, so that ... combating terrorism between our
countries will become more effective," Syed Hamid said.
Details would be provided at a news conference following a
second day of talks on Wednesday, said Syed Hamid.
The meeting of the Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Commission was the
first since 1997 and reflects the seriousness of issues between
the two largely Muslim nations, including terrorism, human
trafficking, piracy, illegal immigrants, migrant workers and
trade.
It comes amid a backdrop of arrests in Malaysia and Singapore
over the past two months of suspected Islamic militants -- some
with links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network -- accused of
plotting a campaign to bomb U.S. targets in Southeast Asia.
Some are believed to be part of a wider movement called Jemaah
Islamiyah that seeks to establish a fundamentalist Islamic state
across Indonesia, Malaysia and the southern Philippines.
"Cooperation to combat extremism and terrorism is an
obligation," Hassan said in a statement before Tuesday's talks.
"Only on this condition can we carry on with development and
harmony."
Hassan expressed regret over a riot by Indonesian migrant
workers at a Malaysian textile factory Jan. 17, which caused
Malaysia to impose curbs on workers from Indonesia, restricting
them to the plantation and domestic service sectors.
Malaysia has traditionally accepted Indonesian migrants in oil
palm plantations, construction sites, factories and as
housemaids. The government recently estimated that Malaysia has
770,000 registered foreign workers, with 566,000 of them from
Indonesia.
But many Malaysians have long believed that immigrant workers
cause crime rates to swell -- an issue that gained new currency
after the Jan. 17 riot during a police crackdown on drug abuse.
Malaysia subsequently announced curbs on Indonesians and will
now encourage migrants from Uzbekistan, Kazakstan and
Turkmenistan to come work in the construction, services and
manufacturing.
Workers from Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar and Laos will
be allowed to enter manufacturing and services, Vietnamese and
Filipinos will be limited to the construction, plantation and
agriculture sectors, and Indians will be confined to plantation
work.
Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia's most affluent nations, has a
population of about 23 million. Indonesia has nearly 10 times
that number and is the world's most populous Muslim country.