BROTHERHOOD....
The activists want Yudhoyono (left) to disregard Indonesia’s 'brotherhood' with
Malaysia and to press Putrajaya hard.
By : LISA J. ARIFFIN
KUALA LUMPUR : Indonesian
human rights activists alleged that Malaysia is the 'most unsafe' destination
for their migrant workers and urged Jakarta to freeze all diplomatic ties with
Malaysia until the issue is rectified.
The Jakarta Post reported
today that the activists asked Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to
take tough action against the Malaysian government, which they hold responsible
for alleged violence against Indonesian migrant workers, until Putrajaya
improves protection for the group.
“Among the destination
countries for migrant workers, Malaysia is the most unsafe for Indonesian
workers as between 600 and 700 Indonesians die of various causes, including
torture, shooting and exploitative acts by their employers,” Migrant Care
executive director Anis Hidayah was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Post.
She added that Yudhoyono did
not have to consider the “brotherhood” between the two countries and urged the
premier to be tough instead.
Thaufiek Zulbahary of
Solidaritas Perempuan, an NGO providing legal advocacy for female migrant
workers, said the Indonesian government should also delay sending workers to
Malaysia until the government takes steps to protect them.
The activists also accused
Putrajaya of intimidating Malaysian human rights activist Irene Fernandez, the
executive director of Tenaganita, “who has long stood up for migrant workers”.
The Jakarta Post had on
Monday reported Fernandez as saying, among others, Malaysia was not safe for
Indonesian workers because it did not have a legal framework or specific laws
to protect migrant workers.
She was also reported to
have said that it was not in the police’s power to shoot dead three Indonesian
nationals, who had been suspected of burglary and robbery, in an incident in
Port Dickson recently.
Fernandez has since come
under heavy fire locally for her criticism, which detractors say has painted
Malaysia in a negative light, was unpatriotic and be detrimental to Malaysia’s
bilateral relations with Indonesia.
Yesterday, Fernandez
announced that she has been hauled up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC) for an “interview” tomorrow over statements attributed to her
that alleged corruption by police and the court system here.
She has since disputed the
remarks and said The Jakarta Post will print a correction to the article.
But while Fernandez said she
would willingly offer her statements to the graftbusting agency, she stressed
that she would not back down from her stand that Malaysia continues to be a
“completely” unsafe environment for Indonesian workers.
The activist, who was once
jailed for exposing the allegedly poor conditions at local immigration centres,
also refused to apologise for her statements, demanding instead that the
government and her critics apologise to her.
She will meet with MACC
officials at its Putrajaya headquarters at 10am on Friday.
Indonesia recently lifted
the moratorium on the supply of domestic workers to Malaysia, but Indonesian
Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar has repeatedly said
Jakarta would not send workers until Putrajaya could ensure their protection.
M'sia is the most unsafe for Indonesian? So why they are keep on coming to M'sia even through illegal ways?
ReplyDeleteIrene shouldn't continue mislead the public with her personal opinions.
ReplyDeleteI think Indonesia is also unsafe for Malaysians, there are so many Ganyang Malingsia demonstration there. At least our people never held any Ganyang Indonesia demonstrations here.
ReplyDeleteNever mind if the Indonesia government does not want to send anymore workers to our country, we already have enough Indonesia illegal immigrants, it would be great if the Indonesia government can take them all back.
ReplyDeleterakyat Indonesia suka berada di Malaysia kerana Malaysia negara yang aman.
ReplyDeleteRamai warga Indonesia yang datang ke M'sia secara tidak sah
DeleteTeruskan mengekalkan hubungan yang baik dengan negara jiran kita.
ReplyDeleteAda kes juga yang melibatkan beberapa majikan yang menganiaya pekerja tapi ada juga kes yang pekerja Indonesia menganiaya majikannya sehingga melibatkan nyawa.
ReplyDeletememang sejak kebelakangan ini pun Indonesia sering menunjukkan sikap anti Malaysia.. tidak heran selepas ini akan ada lagi kenyataan atau pengumuman dari negara itu yang bertujuan untuk memutuskan terus hubungan diplomatik dengan negara ini..
ReplyDeletebagaimana pula dengan banduan2 warga Indonesia yang banyak memenuhi penjara2 di Malaysia?? siapa yang membahayakan siapa?? malah banduan warga Indonesia sendiri mengatakan bahawa mereka lebih suka berada dalam penjara di Malaysia berbanding dengan dihantar balik ke negara asal..
ReplyDelete