RI plays down remarks over caning of TKIs in Malaysia

RI plays down remarks over caning of TKIs in Malaysia

Agencies, Jakarta

The government distanced itself Wednesday from an attack by the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Amien Rais on what
he called Malaysia's "inhumane" caning of illegal Indonesian
migrant workers.

Minister for Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra,
who is currently in Malaysia to discuss the issue with
authorities there, said the criticism was a personal opinion and
not the stand of the Indonesian government, which respected
Malaysia's sovereignty, Bernama news agency reported.

Mahendra was speaking after a meeting on the migrant issue
with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who
is also home minister.

More than 300,000 illegal immigrants fled Malaysia during a
four-month amnesty which ended on Aug. 1, but courts have since
sentenced dozens of others, including five Indonesians, to jail
and caning.

Amien said on Sunday that caning was an ancient punishment and
the Malaysian government's move to lash Indonesian workers was an
"insult" to all Indonesia.

He also said that he was disappointed, angry and unable to
accept the fact that Malaysia, a modern country, many of whose
people were from the same Malay ethnic group as Indonesia's, had
resorted to punishing Indonesian illegal workers "in a way that
is really inhuman".

Meanwhile, the government is facing mounting pressure to
provide lawyers for its citizens who have been arrested for
illegally working in Malaysia.

Director of the Medan Legal Aid Institute Irham Buana Nasution
said the Indonesian illegal workers deserved legal assistance
despite their violation.

"The government needs to immediately send lawyers to assist
workers who are currently detained and prosecuted there.

"We cannot just desert thousands of people who are facing
legal problems and human rights abuse in Malaysia," Irham said.

Reports said many more Indonesian illegal workers had been
caned following crackdowns on them by Malaysian police over the
past week.

In Sarawak state alone, 2,000 Indonesian illegal workers have
been detained, Antara reported.

Around 480,000 Indonesian illegal workers in Malaysia returned
home before the Aug. 1 deadline when the tough immigration act
took effect.

Malaysian Prime Minister defended his government's harsh
penalties for convicted illegal immigrants.

No one has questioned Singapore's penalties for similar
immigration offenses, but "when Malaysia does the same, Kuala
Lumpur is the target of criticism," Mahathir said, as quoted by
Berita Harian daily.

"Singapore does the same thing but I don't see anyone
complaining. If you overstay in Singapore, you will be caned. We
have learnt from Singapore," Mahathir said.

Legal expert from North Sumatra University Chainur Arrasyid
said the caning was administered under the supervision of a team
of doctors.

A health check is mandatory before, during and after the
punishment, which is designed to avoid fatalities. Doctors will
examine the recipient after six lashes to decide whether the
punishment should continue.

Chainur said the caning did not violate human rights
principles as it was aimed at deterring illegal workers from
returning to Malaysia through illicit means.