The Working People Association (PRP), Indonesia and the Socialist party of Malaysia (PSM) view with deep concern the recent tension in Indonesian-Malaysian relations, related to ultra-nationalist sentiment.

This follows the incident near Bintan Island on August 13 in which three patrolling officers from Indonesian Maritime and Fisheries Department were arrested by Malaysian Marine Police, after seven Malaysian fisherfolk were arrested by the Indonesian authority the same day. All were released soon afterwards

psm with wording logo The two parties noted in a statement that the upsurge of anti-Malaysia sentiment among Indonesians and vice-versa is not in the best interests of the ordinary people in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Neo-liberal attacks

They also claim the people in both countries are facing the same neo-liberal attacks carried out by the ruling regime of both nations.

"At the moment in Malaysia, the richest 10 percent control 38.4 percent of economic wealth, while the bottom 10 percent only get 1.7 percent. Apart from that, a recent study shows that 34 percent of workers in Malaysia or around 1.3 million, receive a monthly wage of RM720 which is below the poverty line.

"Meanwhile in Indonesia, the total population living in poverty has reached 100 million. In Malaysia and Indonesia, there are massive implementations of neo-liberal policies that have worsened the situation. Those policies included cutting subsidies, privatisation, cheap labour and market liberalisation.

"The stirring up of ultra-nationalist sentiment has served nothing but to divert people's attention from crucial issues like neo-liberal attacks on people's welfare, and to strengthen the ruling regime in order to protect the interests of capital owners," the statement said.

It added that although there is much rhetoric about protection for Indonesian migrant workers, the Indonesian government has in fact legalised outsourcing of Indonesian migrant workers through the Perusahaan Jasa Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (PJTKI).

"The Indonesian government also has never provided proper protection for Indonesian migrant workers, preferring to protect Malaysian capital owners, as the fifth largest investor in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Malaysia government uses those migrant workers to develop its economy and keep workers' wage in Malaysia at low level.

"We condemn the ultra-nationalist elements who are trying to split the working people and the poor. At the moment, the urgent need for working class and the poor in Indonesia and Malaysia, is to build solidarity among each other in order to avoid falling into ultra-nationalist sentiments."

It added that the people's movements in Indonesia and Malaysia needed to be consolidated to build genuine regional cooperation and friendly bilateral relationships between Indonesia and Malaysia, based on solidarity trade and sustainable exchanges, for the benefit of all working people, and not on the basis of predatory free trade and profit-driven investment.