ID :
34074
Fri, 12/05/2008 - 10:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/34074
The shortlink copeid
AMBASSADOR TACKLES INDONESIAN MEDIA'S WRONG PERCEPTION OF MALAYSIA
By Mohd Nasir Yusoff
JAKARTA, Dec 5 (Bernama) - It would be wrong on the part of Indonesians to
habour any ill feelings that Malaysians looked down on them, said Malaysian
Ambassador to Indonesia Zainal Abidin Mohamed Zain.
He said whether individually or in concert with other countries, Malaysia
had never viewed Indonesia as the worst country politically, economically,
socially or culturally .
"On the contrary, the government or the people of Malaysia view Indonesia
as a country endowed with vast potential and rich in environmental beauty and
civilisation," he told about 100 editors, journalists and business executives at
a luncheon here Thursday.
Zainal Abidin attested his claims by citing examples, among which, Malaysia
encouraged its companies to invest in Indonesia and that Malaysians chose
Indonesia as one of its preferred holiday destinations.
He said Malaysian companies invested US$2 billion (US$1=RM3.63) annually,
over the past three years, making it the biggest foreign investor in the
republic.
About 4,600 Malaysian students pursued higher education here, he
added.
"Ironically, Indonesia does not mention the number of Malaysians visiting
the republic unlike Malaysia which announced that 1.8 million Indonesian
tourists travelled to our country yearly, over the past few years.
"The euphoria of Malaysians bargain-hunting to find the best deals at Tanah
Abang and Mangga Dua (shopping complexes) in Jakarta, and factory outlets in
Bandung to the extent that Sundanese traders can now speak Bahasa Malaysia
proves my point," he said.
To a suggestion that Malaysia was engaging unskilled labour from
Indonesia, he said there were many Indonesian professionals in Petronas'
payroll while the republic's pilots, engineers and knowledge workers also found
employment in Malaysia.
"As these data have not been uncovered by the Indonesian media, we have
unbalanced reports, thus causing a wrong perception among Indonesians who are
fed with stories on victimisation and arrest of illegal immigrants," he said.
On the rights of Indonesian workers, he said those with work permits would
enjoy the same rights under the law, like Malaysians.
Zainal Abidin described as isolated cases, reports on victimisation of
Indonesian illegal immigrants.
On Malaysian and Indonesian batik, he wanted to know why the two countries
could not work in tandem.
"If the batik is from China, South Africa or Italy, it is not derided.
However, when it comes from Malaysia, it creates an outcry in Indonesia.
"Why can't we work together to promote batik to penetrate the world
market?," he asked.
He asked the Indonesian and Malaysian media to shape the mind and resolve
of
the people and entrepreneurs in the march towards globalisation.
Zainal Abidin, who took more than 30 questions from the floor, won applause
many times for his straight, from-the-gut replies.
-- BERNAMA
JAKARTA, Dec 5 (Bernama) - It would be wrong on the part of Indonesians to
habour any ill feelings that Malaysians looked down on them, said Malaysian
Ambassador to Indonesia Zainal Abidin Mohamed Zain.
He said whether individually or in concert with other countries, Malaysia
had never viewed Indonesia as the worst country politically, economically,
socially or culturally .
"On the contrary, the government or the people of Malaysia view Indonesia
as a country endowed with vast potential and rich in environmental beauty and
civilisation," he told about 100 editors, journalists and business executives at
a luncheon here Thursday.
Zainal Abidin attested his claims by citing examples, among which, Malaysia
encouraged its companies to invest in Indonesia and that Malaysians chose
Indonesia as one of its preferred holiday destinations.
He said Malaysian companies invested US$2 billion (US$1=RM3.63) annually,
over the past three years, making it the biggest foreign investor in the
republic.
About 4,600 Malaysian students pursued higher education here, he
added.
"Ironically, Indonesia does not mention the number of Malaysians visiting
the republic unlike Malaysia which announced that 1.8 million Indonesian
tourists travelled to our country yearly, over the past few years.
"The euphoria of Malaysians bargain-hunting to find the best deals at Tanah
Abang and Mangga Dua (shopping complexes) in Jakarta, and factory outlets in
Bandung to the extent that Sundanese traders can now speak Bahasa Malaysia
proves my point," he said.
To a suggestion that Malaysia was engaging unskilled labour from
Indonesia, he said there were many Indonesian professionals in Petronas'
payroll while the republic's pilots, engineers and knowledge workers also found
employment in Malaysia.
"As these data have not been uncovered by the Indonesian media, we have
unbalanced reports, thus causing a wrong perception among Indonesians who are
fed with stories on victimisation and arrest of illegal immigrants," he said.
On the rights of Indonesian workers, he said those with work permits would
enjoy the same rights under the law, like Malaysians.
Zainal Abidin described as isolated cases, reports on victimisation of
Indonesian illegal immigrants.
On Malaysian and Indonesian batik, he wanted to know why the two countries
could not work in tandem.
"If the batik is from China, South Africa or Italy, it is not derided.
However, when it comes from Malaysia, it creates an outcry in Indonesia.
"Why can't we work together to promote batik to penetrate the world
market?," he asked.
He asked the Indonesian and Malaysian media to shape the mind and resolve
of
the people and entrepreneurs in the march towards globalisation.
Zainal Abidin, who took more than 30 questions from the floor, won applause
many times for his straight, from-the-gut replies.
-- BERNAMA
