Singgih visits Indonesians on Malaysia's death row
Singgih visits Indonesians on Malaysia's death row
By Ridwan M. Sijabat
KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Attorney General Singgih visited on
Wednesday several Indonesians convicted to death by the Malaysian
government for various offenses.
Singgih's visit was scheduled in the wake of reports that five
Indonesian workers are currently on Malaysia's death row. He
pronounced after his visit to the Podo prison, however, that they
were not workers at all but criminals even before coming to this
country.
"They are criminals who came to Malaysia to commit criminal
actions," Singgih told reporters. He added that like other
criminals, those on death row have to pay for their actions.
The attorney general said that the Indonesian press must
distinguish between Indonesian criminals and Indonesian workers
who go to Malaysia to improve their welfare.
Besides Singgih, Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief was also in
town this week to discuss with Malaysian officials various issues
concerning the presence of Indonesian workers in this country.
Although the subject of Indonesians on death row was discussed
during their meetings with Malaysian officials, neither Singgih
nor Latief were willing to disclose whether they had appealed to
the Malaysian government to commute the death sentences.
Politicians in Jakarta reacted to the news of five Indonesian
workers on death row early this month by demanding that the
government seek a reprieve from the Malaysian government on
behalf of the convicts.
The five Indonesians have been identified as Irwan bin
Iskandar, Achmad bin Moh. Noor, Halil alias Helal Saad, Parsison
alias Paradiso bin Hassan and Ridwan bin Haji Ismail. They were
convicted for crimes ranging from narcotic trafficking, murder
and armed robbery.
Indonesian officials pointed out that eight other Indonesians
have had their death sentences commuted by the Malaysian Board of
Pardons. They said 12 other Indonesians are currently under
prosecution for offenses which carry the maximum penalty of
death.
In addition, there are nearly 1,500 Indonesians serving time
in Malaysian correctional institutions, many of whom came to the
country as workers.
Malaysian Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Megat Juned Megat
Ayub said his government is counting on the cooperation of
Jakarta to stem the tide of crimes committed by Indonesians in
the country. "We are asking for the Indonesian government to send
us the criminals' records," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told
reporters after meeting with Latief on Wednesday that he hoped
the problems related to the presence of illegal Indonesian
workers in this country would not harm the overall bilateral
relations between the two countries.
Anwar stressed that Indonesian workers in Malaysia have helped
with the economic development in the country. "We appreciate the
contribution of Indonesian workers to our ongoing economic
development.
The Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur said some 600,000
Indonesians are registered as workers in Malaysia. But officials
say that for every legitimate Indonesian worker, there is one
Indonesian working illegally. (rms)