(AFP) Staff at two Malaysian consulates in Indonesia are on alert following threats of attacks by residents but the missions will stay open, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said today.

Familes of diplomats at the Pontianak consulate in West Kalimantan province on Borneo island have been flown out of the country by the Malaysian air force on the advice of Indonesian authorities.

Syed Hamid said the consulate and another at Medan on Sumatra island were on alert for any threat.

"Malaysia will not make a hasty decision by closing the consulate office or embassy as such a move would have an implication on diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Indonesia," Bernama news agency quoted him as saying.

Families were flown out this week after a protest outside the Pontianak consulate over a case in which an Indonesian maid was abused by her employer in the neighouring Malaysian state of Sarawak.

Similar demonstration

A similar demonstration at the mission last August was also sparked partly by ill-treatment of an Indonesian maid working in Malaysia.

Asked about the complaints of abuse, Syed Hamid said victims could seek police help.

The foreign minister advised Malaysians to avoid visiting places in Kalimantan which could jeopardise their safety.

Last week Malaysians travelling in eight cars and a bus to Pontianak were detained by residents but later released unharmed, Bernama said.

Last August 31 a crowd attacked the Malaysian mission in Pontianak, smashing several windows. Four days before that an exposive device was hurled into the compound of the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta but no one was hurt.