Malaysian govt evacuates consulate family members

Malaysian govt evacuates consulate family members

JAKARTA (JP): The Malaysian government has evacuated family
members of its consulate office in Pontianak, West Kalimantan,
due to civil tension at the Indonesia-Malaysia border town of
Serawak, Antara news agency reported on Friday.

The agency said that the evacuation was carried out upon the
advice of the Indonesian provincial authorities after a series of
rallies in front of the consulate office in Pontianak, concerning
the alleged ill-treatment of an Indonesian maid by a Malaysian
citizen.

The Malaysian foreign ministry's statement, distributed to
reporters in Kuala Lumpur, mentioned that nine family members
were flown on Thursday to Kuching and Kuala Lumpur by a Royal
Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft.

Malaysian foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said the
evacuation was a precautionary step taken as a response to the
latest developments in the border town that may threaten the
safety of the Malaysian consulate staff.

"A group of people had demonstrated at the consulate in
Pontianak and we have been advised to evacuate family members of
staff," he said, as quoted by Antara, while adding that the
situation in Pontianak is so far under control.

Albar further said the three officers remaining at the
consulate will provide situational reports to the Malaysian
Embassy in Jakarta and to Wisma Putra (Malaysian foreign
ministry), while the consulate will stay open as closing the
office would unnecessarily affect diplomatic relations.

The Malaysian foreign minister also advised Malaysians to
avoid visiting places in Kalimantan for their own personal
safety.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue
any official statement over the incident. (dja)