RESPECT MALAYSIAN LAW, INDONESIAN AMBASSADOR TELLS COUNTRYMEN

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) -- Indonesian Ambassador Dr Da'i
Bachtiar Tuesday advised all his fellow citizens in Malaysia to comply with the
law and regulations laid down by the country's authorities.

He also told them to always remember their main intention when coming to
Malaysia, namely to raise family income.

"All of you surely came to Malaysia to work earning halal livelihood.

"Show that you are good Indonesians, you adhere to regulations and don't
commit any offence because you will be penalised, not only in Malaysia but also
at home if you do something bad," he said during a visit to Bernama headquarters
here.

Bachtiar said the involvement of Indonesian workers in crime in the country
was not too significant.

"I have been informed by the Home Minister that the number of Indonesians
who committed crime in Malaysia actually was not too significant.

"But perhaps due to perception, it was frequently perceived that Indonesians
did more bad things, so my hope, be professional in this matter," he said.

Bachtiar also said his side often received complaints from Indonesian maids
in the country that they were not paid adequate salary and were abused.

He said his side did encourage Indonesian workers in the country to
communicate with the embassy and planned to set up a unit to monitor their
situations in the future.

He said the Indonesian embassy also appreciated the Human Resources Ministry
that always gave positive response in solving complaints regarding Indonesian
workers.

"I would like to appeal to our brothers in Malaysia, consider Indonesian
workers as family.

"They came surely to work, wanting to get greater prosperity for the family
and surely they did not come to make trouble in Malaysia, but to work legally,
so please be receptive," he said.

He said that to date, there were 1.2 million Indonesian workers already
registered while the number of people who came to the embassy for documentation
was between 700 and 1,000 daily.
-- BERNAMA