JAKARTA - About 70 people gathered outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta today to protest Malaysia's treatment of migrant workers.

It was the second demonstration at the embassy this week in support of Indonesian labourers, thousands of whom began fleeing Malaysia in late July ahead of tough new laws that promised caning and jail terms for illegals.

'Save Indonesian workers', said a large banner carried by the demonstrators, who sat down outside the embassy.

They called themselves the Brigade for Fatherland Defence and Archipelago Student Forum.

"We don't need to blame or compete with Malaysians in Indonesia, but we must oppose the Malaysian government policy," said a statement issued by the demonstrators.

They called the policy "uncivilized".