Politicians under fire over Malaysian feud

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.