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)