The issue of migrant worker protection has perennially caused tension between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.
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Kris R Mada / Nina Susilo
·4 minutes read
PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob continued the tradition of his two predecessors by visiting Indonesia on his first overseas trip as the neighborly countries are forging relations further.
BOGOR, KOMPAS — The Malaysian government has shown its commitment to strengthen relations with Indonesia with PM Ismail visiting Jakarta to follow up what his predecessors did in the space of three years since 2018.
Like Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin, PM Ismail chose Indonesia as the destination of his first overseas trip, which, according to Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, was proof of Malaysia's commitment to strengthen relations with Indonesia.
He said Kuala Lumpur wanted relations with Jakarta to continue to improve in the future.
PM Ismail arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday and was welcomed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Wednesday (10/11/2021).
A number of issues were discussed, ranging from the perennial issue of Indonesian workers’ (TKI) protection in Malaysia and health cooperation on the Covid-19 pandemic recovery to border issues, regional issues of Myanmar and the South China Sea crisis.
During the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the ministers on cooperation in the education sector as well as mutual administrative assistance in the customs sector.
Migrant worker protection
During a joint press conference, PM lsmail gave the assurance to protect Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia. He said improvements on the issue had been made, one of which was related to minimum standards for the provision of housing and lodging for workers from abroad, including from Indonesia.
The Malaysian Human Resources Ministry was reported to have also set up an electronic payroll system and a special portal for migrant workers.
"If there are issues about late wage payment, dissatisfaction with their employers and others related to workers, they can make a complaint directly to the Human Resources Ministry," PM Ismail said.
He added Indonesian workers who finished their work term during the Covid-19 pandemic were allowed to choose to extend their work permits without having to return to Indonesia to arrange them.
In this regard, President Jokowi urged that a memorandum of understanding regarding cooperation in the protection of Indonesian migrant workers be completed immediately. He also requested that the permit to establish a community learning center in the Peninsula be issued immediately.
There were many cases of rights violations that prompted Indonesia to restrict the sending of workers to Malaysia.
The issue of migrant worker protection has perennially caused tension between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. It has been a nagging problem for years in both countries’ relations. There were many cases of rights violations that prompted Indonesia to restrict the sending of workers to Malaysia.
As stated by the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Low Kian Chuan and Malaysian Employers' Federation (MEF) chairman Hussain Husman, as quoted by The New Straits Times and Malay Mail, entrepreneurs in the plantation, construction and manufacturing sectors in Malaysia were experiencing labor difficulties due to the restriction.
During the meeting, President Jokowi and PM Ismail agreed to immediately create a travel corridor arrangement (TCA) given the current development that the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia and Indonesia was considered to have improved. "In the beginning, we will start with Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur-Bali," PM Ismail said.
According to the President, the travel corridor arrangement will be carried out in stages with the hope to encourage the economic recovery of the two countries after the pandemic. He was also appreciative of the encouraging trend in Indonesia-Malaysia trade during January-August 2021, which rose 49 percent compared to the same period the previous year.
The President also shed light on the straying issue of the Indonesia-Malaysia borders. "We want to round up the negotiations on national borders, both land and sea, as soon as possible because it has been going on for quite a long time. We hope the progress can lead to a roundup in the shortest possible time," the President said.
PM Ismail said that of the four issues related to the Malaysia-Indonesia maritime border dispute, two of them were resolved. The two leaders agreed to step up efforts by putting them in a memorandum of understanding without having to wait for the progress in the other two issues. At least half the problem can be solved.