Malaysia refuses to ease tough policy on illegal workers

Malaysia refuses to ease tough policy on illegal workers

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Tampak Siring, Bali

The Indonesian government's efforts to ease the plight of
Indonesian illegal workers in Malaysia have come to a dead end
with Malaysia apparently refusing to change its policy.

Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda confirmed on
Wednesday that visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohammad would not sign any document regarding labor issues
during his two-day visit to Bali.

"There will be no document on Indonesian workers signed during
this visit. We are just going to have to discuss the matter in
bilateral meetings," the minister said.

Mahathir's visit comes at a time when over 100,000 Indonesian
workers are trying to flee Malaysia before the Malaysian
government imposes a strict new immigration law on Aug. 1 to
crack down on illegal workers through harsh punishments,
including caning.

Many of those workers are believed to be still stranded in
border areas. And those who have managed to reach Indonesian
ports or cities face uncertainties as they have no jobs.

Indonesia has asked Malaysia to give another month for
Indonesian illegal workers to leave the country, but Malaysia
apparently gave a cold response as it says it has already given a
four-month grace period for illegal workers to go home.

"Malaysia is still considering the request and so far our
government is trying to set up posts to help these workers to
return home," Hasan said, adding that the Indonesian request
would be discussed during a bilateral meeting on Thursday.

According to Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Hadi Wayarabi,
the Indonesian government proposed three memorandums of
understanding on labor issues to Malaysia three weeks ago.

The first two MoUs -- on the recruitment and replacement of
workers -- would still be brought to the Malaysian cabinet, while
the third MoU on the deportation of illegal workers was
considered irrelevant as the 'deportations' had already taken
place, Hadi said.

Labor issues will likely continue to pose as a thorn in
bilateral ties.

What might irk the sensitivities of Indonesians even more
would be Malaysia's decision to put Indonesian workers at the
bottom of the list for recruitment purposes.

However, Malaysian foreign minister Hamid Albar played down
fears that the issue of illegal workers would jeopardize
bilateral relations.

"Our relations are good and firm, and they will not be upset
by any incidents that have nothing to do with our long-term
relationship," Hamid Albar said upon his arrival in Denpasar.

Besides the labor issue, Mahathir will hold bilateral talk
with Megawati on Thursday to discuss many other outstanding
issues, including security, terrorism, illegal logging and the
haze problem.

On Thursday, Megawati and Mahathir are scheduled to witness
the signing of five memorandums of understanding, including one
on immigration arrangements that will simplify the entry process
between the two countries.

Also on the second day of the visit, both leaders will witness
the official first delivery of natural gas from Indonesian state-
owned oil and gas company Pertamina to its counterpart Petronas.
The ceremony will be held in Tampak Siring.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is also scheduled to
arrive in Bali on Thursday and join a luncheon with the two
leaders, before witnessing the singing of a trilateral
cooperation agreement on the rubber trade.

All three leaders are slated to leave Bali on Thursday
evening.