Indonesian assembly chairman slams Malaysia over caning
Indonesia's national assembly chairman Amien Rais on Sunday slammed Malaysia over what he called the "inhumane" caning of several illegal Indonesian migrant workers.
"Frankly, I am feeling disappointed, angry and cannot accept that Malaysia, a modern country which is still of the same root as us, has a way to punish Indonesian illegal migrant workers that is really inhumane," Rais said, according to the state Antara news agency.
He said caning was an ancient punishment and the Malaysian government's move to lash Indonesian workers was an "insult" to all Indonesia.
"I urge the Indonesian government, in a dignified way, to demand Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammad to stop playing. Mahathir is playing with fire," Rais said.
"We have the right to be angry at Malaysia because we have been so insulted."
Reports in Jakarta said up to 480,000 Indonesian illegals may have been in Malaysia before thousands returned home ahead of an August 1 deadline, after which they faced jail and whipping under tough new immigration laws. — AFP
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