ANIFAH TO MEET INDONESIAN COUNTERPART ON BETTER PROTECTION FOR MALAYSIANS

BY ALAN TING

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- Foreign Minister Anifah Aman will meet his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda next week to discusss better protection of Malaysians in the republic and several other issues including Asean matters.

Anifah said he briefed the Cabinet today about the latest situation in
Indonesia after the Malaysian Students Department in Jakarta yesterday advised
Malaysian students there to take care following reportedly rising anger among a
small group of people against Malaysians.

"I have briefed the Cabinet on the latest situation and have informed them
that I will be going there to handle the issue. As far as we are concerned, what
is happening there is just the action of a small number of irresponsible
people," he said when contacted.

"Although it doesn't affect our bilateral relationship, we are concerned
as it involves the safety of our citizens there," he added.

He said he would raise Malaysia’s concern and hoped Indonesian authorities
can protect the safety of Malaysians.

Anifah said he would be in the Indonesian capital for a few days and would
meet Wirajuda on Thursday.

On Tuesday, a group of Indonesians calling themselves "Benteng Demokrasi
Rakyat" (BENDERA) reportedly threatened to use bamboo spikes on Malaysians along
a Jakarta street and had demanded passers-by to show proof of their nationality.

There had been demonstrations outside the Malaysian Embassy and in the
latest one, protestors pelted rotten eggs at the embassy building last week
after Malaysia was accused of “stealing” the Balinese pendet dance in a
promotion of Malaysia aired by the Discovery Channel.

Rotten eggs were also hurled at a house rented by Malaysian students of
Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta by a group of local undergraduates over the
Pendet dance.

Discovery Channel has apologised for the error made by a Singapore-based
company.

-- BERNAMA