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.