PM Anwar who was sworn in on 24/11/2022 is currently in Jakarta for a two-day visit until Monday (9/1/2023) to follow in the footsteps of predecessors Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob since 2018
By
KRIS MADA, MAHDI MUHAMMAD
·4 minutes read
AFP/POOL/VINCENT THIAN
Malaysia's newly appointed prime minister Anwar Ibrahim (C) and his wife Wan Azizah waves as they arrive ahead of his address at a gathering in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 24, 2022. - Reformist politician Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Malaysia's 10th prime minister on November 24, ending a days-long political impasse after an inconclusive weekend election.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Malaysia has reaffirmed Indonesia as its important partner in the region with newly inaugurated Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim being the neighboring country’s latest government head to make Indonesia his first official destination to visit after being sworn in.
PM Anwar, who was sworn in on 24 Nov., 2022, is currently in Jakarta for a two-day visit until Monday (9/1/2023) to follow in the footsteps of predecessors Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob since 2018.
A press statement from the Malaysian Embassy in South Jakarta on Sunday (8/1) says that Anwar is coming to Jakarta at the invitation of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. In his first overseas visit, Anwar is accompanied by Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir, International Trade and Industry Minister Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, as well as a number of officials from the related institutions.
Protection of migrant workers and increasing economic cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia are on the main agenda of Anwar's mission. He is scheduled to be received by President Jokowi at the Bogor Palace on Monday (9/1). According to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, the two leaders will discuss several issues regarding bilateral cooperation and joint efforts in the face of regional and global challenges, including the post-military coup crisis in Myanmar.
On the website of the Malaysian news agency Bernama, Zambry is quoted as saying that as many as eight memorandums of understanding (MoU) will be signed as part of cooperation agreements between private companies from both countries. There will also be the signing of 11 letters of intent by Malaysian companies to participate in the development of Indonesia’s new capital city (IKN) in Kalimantan.
“We have noticed that the development of IKN has been rapid in Indonesia and that will certainly provide opportunities for Malaysia, especially for Sabah and Sarawak to receive benefits in development. This is a new opportunity that needs to be discussed by both leaders," he said.
(KOMPAS/MAHDI MUHAMMAD)
Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambry Abdul Kadir (right, in a purple shirt) talks with a number of journalists during a visit to Jakarta, Friday (30/12/2022). Zambry explained some of the latest policies by the Government of Malaysia, including the issue of Indonesian migrant workers, ASEAN and palm oil products.
Migrant workers
In addition to the economic cooperation, according to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, the two leaders will discuss country borders, which appear to remain a nagging issue. While still disputing over the maritime boundary in the Sulawesi Sea and the southernmost fringe of the Malacca Strait, the two countries have yet to settle on seven segments of territorial boundaries. Those are four segments in West Kalimantan province and three segments in North Kalimantan province.
No less important is the issue of migrant workers. Having signed an MoU recently, Indonesia and Malaysia are still looking into detailed mechanisms regarding the protection and placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.
While acknowledging Indonesian migrant workers’ important role in the Malaysian economy, Zambry said a shortfall in migrant workers had resulted in Malaysia's manufacturing and plantation sectors missing their targets for years.
The Anwar administration has assigned the Home Ministry as the sole institution to deal with migrant workers. The affairs of migrant workers used to be the domain of several institutions. Indonesia and Malaysia have also agreed that there is only one channel for the recruitment of Indonesian migrant workers.
"I see to it that Malaysia will continue to work with Indonesia to ensure the protection of Indonesian migrant workers. I fully understand [Indonesia’s] concern about migrant workers in Malaysia,” Zambry said (Kompas, 30/12/2022).
Indonesian Migrant Workers Forum (FPMI) coordinator Zainul Arifin has voiced his concern about the planned policy to charge a new fee for Malaysia-bound migrant workers starting this year. Prospective migrant workers will have to apply for work visas through a third party at a cost of Rp 1.1 million (US$70.64). Prospective workers used to go directly to the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta at a cost of Rp 50,000.
I see to it that Malaysia will continue to work with Indonesia to ensure the protection of Indonesian migrant workers.
The new tariff is deemed as an infringement to the Indonesia-Malaysia agreement. According to the April 2022 agreement, the recruitment fees shall be borne by the prospective employer and paid in the jurisdiction of Malaysia. In fact, Indonesian prospective migrant workers now have to bear the fees.
Anwar and Jokowi are also scheduled to talk over palm oil, an important commodity for both countries. A number of countries are believed to be trying to put pressure on the Indonesian and Malaysian palm oil industry.
Prior to the meeting at the Bogor Palace, Anwar is scheduled to give a public lecture on the strategic significance of Indonesia-Malaysia relations.
He has quite often delivered public lectures as well as becoming a speaker at seminars and other various forums in Indonesia in the last three decades. His daughter Nurul Izzah also appears to be an appealing public speaker.
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