The group of demonstrators who protested outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta yesterday is suspected to have links with Indonesian military forces and armed groups involved in the East Timor massacre three years ago.

Yesterday, some 40 persons claiming to represent radical nationalist group Laskar Merah Putih burned a Malaysian flag and pulled down the main gates of the Malaysian mission in Jakarta.

A protest letter was later handed to an embassy official, urging that Malaysia stops its "inhumane" caning and fining of illegal workers.

The incident prompted Foreign Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar to advise Malaysians against traveling to Indonesia unless it is necessary, until anti-Malaysian sentiment in the republic "cools down".

A small army

According to the Consortium for Indonesian Migrant Workers' Defense (Kopbumi), the Laskar Merah Putih is a nationalist army, which is said to be linked to the Indonesian army.

"Some of them are ex-criminals. Previously, they had been also sent to East Timor during the post-independence clashes," said Kopbumi executive secretary Wahyu Susilo when contacted today.

However, he added that this group is a small one and that it was not working with other groups seeking migrant workers' rights for Indonesians.

Asked to comment on the extent of anti-Malaysian sentiment in Indonesia, Wahyu said it was "not really" strong, but conceded that another incident involving detention of Malaysian tourists in Medan was "political".

Last Friday, 19 Malaysian tourists were detained by Indonesian police for allegedly not having their passports with them at the lobby of a hotel in Lake Toba, Sumatra. They were released after being held for almost six hours.

The two incidents are said to be the outcome of mounting anger over the jailing and whipping of Indonesian illegal immigrants arrested after the implementation of new immigration laws this month.

To date, over 100 Indonesians have been convicted of immigration offences in various states around Malaysia.

Situation under control

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry's Indonesia desk said today that a formal travel advisory may be issued in the coming days, although no specific date has been set.

A representative said the current stand of ministry is for Malaysian citizens to delay their trips to Indonesia.

"This applies to tour groups and also business (travellers)," said the officer who declined to be named.

The officer said the ministry had no plans to recall staff of the embassy because the situation was still "under control".

"Only a few persons demonstrated but the situation is still safe for our officers," said the officer.

The officer also said the 19 tourists who were detained in Lake Toba last week had sought the assistance of the Malaysian consulate in Medan, which then helped to secure their release.

In addition to the embassy in Jakarta, Malaysia has two consular offices in Medan and Pekan Baru in Sumatra, as well as an office in Pontianak, Kalimantan.

Some tours to go ahead

One of the largest tour operators in Malaysia, Reliance Pacific Bhd, said tour schedules would go ahead as planned.

"Most of our tours are to Bali, which isn't really affected," said marketing manager Jamie Ng.

Ng was unable to say if there had been any cancellation of trips organised by the company to Indonesia.

"It has only been a day since the announcement was made (by Syed Hamid). So we do not know yet," she added.