PM committed to protecting rights of Indonesian migrant workers in M'sia

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated the government's commitment to protect the rights of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia and avoid issues with the potential to strain bilateral ties between the two neighbouring nations.

Anwar in his joint statement with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace, Bogor, as part of his first official visit abroad, said both leaders have reached an understanding to ensure a holistic solution that targets the role of private agencies involved in the recruitment and placement process.

"Issues on workers, Indonesian migrant workers, I'm aware. InsyaAllah, we will avoid issues that can strain our ties because I want ties between Malaysia-Indonesia to remain in a special category.

"I hope our foreign ministers will understand this," Anwar said during the function also attended by a ministerial delegation from both countries, including Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi.

Anwar noted that issues including the treatment of undocumented migrant workers in Malaysian detention have hurt the feelings of many ordinary Indonesians, apart from its government.

"I know it well because I've had experience being in the same prison (with the migrants) and I heard at the time sounds of how they were whipped, and I don't believe this is something humane.

"Alhamdulillah, for this year and last year the practice of whipping has been ended, but that is not the solution," he said.

Role of labour agencies

Anwar said among solutions discussed with Indonesia include a commitment to regulate the role of labour agencies, ensuring that the companies tasked to facilitate the recruitment and placement process will not make excessive profits at the expense of workers.

Meanwhile, Joko, or better known as Jokowi, welcomed Malaysia's commitment to protect the rights of Indonesian migrant workers.

"I have high hopes that we can really carry out the One-Channel System for recruitment and placement of Indonesian migrant workers together," Jokowi said in reference to the mechanism agreed upon by both governments last year as part of conditions to lift a freeze imposed on sending Indonesian workers to Malaysia.

At the same time, Jokowi said he had reiterated a request for Malaysia to facilitate the development of a community learning centre for children of Indonesian migrant workers in the peninsula, modelled after a similar initiative in East Malaysia.

Both leaders also touched on ongoing developments in Indonesia's soon-to-be new capital city of Nusantara in East Kalimantan, with expected participation from major Malaysian companies that had yesterday signed letters of intent with their Indonesian counterparts.

Other items on the agenda included Malaysia-Indonesia cooperation as palm oil producing countries; border issues; the role of both countries as part of Asean; and pressuring the Myanmar junta government into ending violence in the country.

Buggy tour

Earlier this morning, Jokowi personally drove Anwar on a buggy in a tour of the 205-year-old Unesco-recognised Bogor botanical garden - covering an area of 87 hectares and containing 13,983 different kinds of trees and plants of various origins - located adjacent to the presidential palace's grounds.

Upon arrival, Anwar was led through the palace grounds by a cavalry troop as well as dancers dressed in traditional costumes from Indonesia's 38 provinces.

After signing the guestbook, Jokowi also led Anwar to plant a merawan tree, which is indigenous to the rainforests of Indonesia.

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