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.