Indonesian Embassy Supports Foreign Workers Temporary Card

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian Embassy here has welcomed the efforts made by the Attorney General's Chambers to allow the government to issue the Foreign Workers' Temporary Card to illegal immigrants employed here. Indonesia Ambassador to Malaysia, Herman Prayitno said the move would draw more Indonesians to work legitimately here, thus solving the problem of unregistered foreign workers in this country. "This is good news to Indonesians and hopefully it will become a reality as it would facilitate the employment of Indonesians who want to work in Malaysia," he said after paying a courtesy visit to Dewan Negara (Senate) president S A Vigneswaran at the Parliament Wednesday. Herman said the matter would be discussed by the Indonesia's Ministry of Manpower and Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources to realise the hopes of leaders from both countries to solve the problem of illegal immigrants in Malaysia. He added that there were currently more than a million registered Indonesian workers in Malaysia. Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said permission to issue the cards was based on current needs and open to all sectors, but only for the illegal immigrants who had employers. Herman, who ends his service on Jan 31, also recorded his thanks to the leaders and people of Malaysia who have helped him in his duties here. Herman, who began his service in November 2012, expressed his hopes that both countries would continue their close collaboration through the new Indonesian ambassador, Rusdi Kirana. "I hope the leaders in this country will continue to assist my successor Rusdi Kirana, to continue the agenda on land and sea boundaries as well as unregistered workers for the good of both countries in the future," he said. Meanwhile, Vigneswaran said he would request the President of the Malaysian Senators Council, Senator Khairudin Samad to meet with the new Indonesian ambassador after he begins his term of office to continue fostering the close ties between both countries. -- BERNAMA