Politicians under fire over Malaysian feud

Jupriadi and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Makassar/Medan

An old saying widely known in both Indonesia and Malaysia "Gajah bertarung dengan gajah pelanduk mati di tengah-tengah (Elephants fight, mouse deer die as a result)" precisely describes the current row between the two countries in the way it has sparked anxiety among thousands of Indonesian migrant workers.

Take the cases of Jafar, 29, and Rusli Amin, 30, two illegal Indonesian workers who were deported from Malaysia, as examples.

"The quarrel is a waste of energy and it will be Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia who have to pay the price. They may suffer more stringent treatment out there if the situation worsens," Jafar of the South Sulawesi town of Gowa told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

He suggested the leaders of the two countries instead enhance cooperation, particularly in settling the migrant issue.

Jafar, who admits he holds a grudge against the Malaysian government whose strict immigration act forced him and hundreds of thousands of other illegal migrant workers to return home, has never expected the deteriorating bilateral ties to blow out of control.

Politicians in the House of Representatives and People's Consultative Assembly have added matter to the war of words, with their latest statement suggesting that the government withdraw all Indonesian workers from Malaysia.

Claiming to be defending national pride, Assembly Speaker Amien Rais continued on Thursday to keep the uproar against the caning of illegal workers alive, which he said was inhuman treatment.

"I cannot imagine what will happen to people like us if the enmity escalates. What we need is concrete action, not just moves to blame each other," Jafar said.

Rusli, who has returned to his home in Parepare, also in South Sulawesi, shared Jafar's concerns.

"It's no use to protest our expulsion from Malaysia, which already belongs in the past. The problem now is that hundreds of thousands of Indonesian migrant workers are stranded in Nunukan," Rusli said, referring to the East Kalimantan town which borders the Malaysian state of Serawak.

There have been reports of the rampant extortion of workers applying for passports and work permits, not to mention poor health facilities to serve the sudden, massive influx of people. More than 1,000 people in the camps are suffering from various illnesses, with at least 24 deaths already.

Rusli admitted he was lucky to have reached his hometown after the crackdown on illegal workers in Malaysia took effect.

"We do no not ask too much from the government. Having a spat with Malaysia is their own business, but people like us should have not been sacrificed," he said.

Commenting on the House legislators' demand for the withdrawal of all Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia, Rusli said the move was counterproductive.

"How could they ask all of us to abandon Malaysia? Thousands of Indonesians are forced to go to Malaysia to look for jobs which the government has failed to provide," he said.

Juliani Lubis, 28, who was also forced to return home from Penang where she worked illegally as a housemaid, said she regretted the strained bilateral ties.

"If this tension goes on, the Malaysian government could ban all Indonesian workers from entering the country. It means a big problem for us because we do not find jobs here, a reversal of what we experienced in Malaysia," she said.

She urged an end to the polemic and asked both governments to solve their problem cordially.

Indonesia and Malaysia have arranged a meeting in September, which is expected to result in a Memorandum of Understanding on migrant workers.