STONES THROWN AT M'SIAN'S HOME IN "SWEEPING" INCIDENT

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- The home of a Malaysian engineer at an oil palm
plantation in Ketapang, West Kalimantan was pelted with stones in a "sweeping"
(hunt for Malaysians) incident on Sunday.

It is understood in the 2pm incident, a group of five men wearing headbands
written with "Ganyang Malaysia" (Go to war with Malaysia) had also hurled verbal
insults against Malaysia.

Speaking to Bernama, the 60-year-old engineer, who declined to be
identified, said he was almost hit by a stone when he opened his front door to check
what the commotion was.

He said quick action by Indonesian police prevented the situation from worsening.

He added that he felt traumatised by the incident and had asked his employer to
shorten his contract and be allowed to return home.

At the time of the incident, he was home alone as he had sent his wife back to
Malaysia.

It is further understood that the group had been on the lookout for
Malaysians working at the plantation since Saturday but only came across the
engineer on Sunday.

Vigilante groups often take out their frustrations on Malaysians whenever issues
of contention crop up between the two countries.

This round of "sweeping" comes in the wake of three Indonesian enforcement
officers being arrested by Malaysian authorities in disputed waters off Bintan
island earlier this month.

The arrests had come after seven fishermen had been detained by Indonesian
authorities for allegedly trespassing into Indonesian waters.

They have all since been freed by both countries.

Meanwhile, the vigilante group Bendera, which has been at the forefront of
holding demonstrations condemning Malaysia over the Bintan incident, Tuesday
held another in front of its office here in spite of Malaysia celebrating its
53rd indenpendence anniversary.

Besides burning the Malaysian flag, the group also invited the demonstrators to
give their thumb prints in blood on a white T-shirt which they said they wanted
to present Malaysia as a gift for the anniversary.

They also repeatedly shouted "Ganyang Malaysia".
-- BERNAMA