EPG SETS UP SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO MONITOR INDONESIAN MIGRANT ISSUES

CYBERJAYA, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- A special committee representing Malaysia
and
Indonesia will be set up through the Malaysia-Indonesia Eminent Persons Group
(EPG) to monitor Indonesian migrant issues in Malaysia.

Malaysia EPG chairman Musa Hitam said the committee, to be represented
by various sectors, would be given the mandate to ensure a more effective
implementation of the relevant laws.

He said a proactive measure was necessary to avoid any undesirable
implication although the two governments had used various mechanisms to deal
with the issues.

"Currently, we are being reactive, that is, we act when something has
happened. We want a system whereby there is continuous action," he said after
chairing the 4th Malaysia-Indonesia EPG meeting with Indonesia EPG chairman
General (Rtd) Try Sutrisno, here, Tuesday.

The 3rd meeting was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on Nov 12 to 13.


Musa said such a committee would enable a problem or matter to be tackled
immediately instead of taking a long time.

He cited the boat tragedy off the coast of Port Klang in October where many
more passengers could have been saved if there had been such a
committee.

In the incident, 12 people including a pregnant woman were killed when the
boat carrying more than 100 Indonesians back home to Sumatra to celebrate
Aidilfitri, broke to pieces and sank.

Musa said that at Tuesday's meeting, both sides also agreed that the media
practitioners in both countries be given a lot of exposure, including through
briefings, on issues involving Malaysia and Indonesia to avoid
controversies.

"This is to ensure that the media practitioners analyse issues based on
knowledge and not on emotions," he added.

-- BERNAMA