Malaysia to probe attacks on its missions
Malaysia to probe attacks on its missions
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia is sending its senior police officer to Jakarta to investigate attacks on two of its missions in Indonesia, the official Bernama news agency said on Sunday.
Insp. Gen. Norian Mai would discuss the attacks with his Indonesian counterpart, the agency quoted Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as saying.
Abdullah said even though Indonesia had expressed regret over the incidents, Malaysia would prefer a thorough investigation to be conducted and receive an assurance on the safety of the staff at its missions.
Norian told Bernama he would leave for Jakarta Monday along with special branch director Mohamad Yusof Abdul Rahman.
"We will seek the assistance of the Indonesian police to find the cause of the attacks," he said.
On Thursday, a group of about 50 people hurled stones, eggs and dirty water (in plastic bags) at the building of the Malaysian consulate in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Windows were broken and a security post was damaged.
Protesters condemned Malaysia for mistreating Indonesian maids and for alleged timber thefts along the border between West Kalimantan and Malaysia's Sarawak state.
A week earlier, a hand grenade exploded in the compound of the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta. No one was injured.
Meanwhile, the New Straits Times reported that Malaysia may close down its embassy and consulates in Indonesia temporarily if attacks on them continue.
The newspaper quoted Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar as saying on Saturday that he had issued an alert to all overseas missions asking them to tighten security.
The foreign minister said he believed the attacks were instigated by certain groups who wanted to stoke the Malaysian people's anger.
"It appears that the attacks were done intentionally. I don't think the group is politically linked to any government, just a party bent on making Malaysians angry," he said.
Syed Hamid said the ministry had drawn up an action plan that included evacuating all Malaysian embassy staff in Indonesia if necessary.