ID :
88626
Mon, 11/09/2009 - 14:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/88626
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIA REMAINS IDEAL PLACE FOR INDONESIAN WORKERS
By AHMAD FUAD YAHYA
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Similarities in culture, language and
geographical proximity are reasons for Malaysia to remain an ideal place for
Indonesians to seek employment here.
With similarities in culture and language, it is easy for Malaysians to
understand why about two million Indonesians have blended with the Malay culture
and become accustomed to the way of life in Malaysia.
Indonesian Sociology Research director Khairudin Harahap said the
similarities are a drawing factor for the Indonesian people, especially the low
income group, to come to Malaysia in search of employment.
If they were to go to the United States or Hong Kong, it would be difficult
for them to communicate in English or Chinese, he said.
"So, Malaysia is an ideal place, especially so with the tolerance level of
the government and people of Malaysia, provided they abide by the rules and laws
of the country and not create social problems," said Khairudin in an exclusive
interview with Bernama.
Khairudin, an Indonesian who is now a permanent resident who has lived in
Malaysia for 28 years, said there are about 200,000 Indonesian maids while the
rest were construction workers, plantation workers and cleaners.
Apart from the two million workers, there are also about 3,000 professionals
from Indonesia working in companies like Petronas, MAS, AirAsia and banks.
He added that a number of issues involving Indonesian maids here were
unavoidable considering the presence of a large number of Indonesian workers
here.
"The presence of about two million Indonesians is as good as the total
population of a province in Indonesia or a state in Malaysia. If all the two
million lived in one state, there probably will be no problems.
"But what happens here are merely human tragedies and incidentally caused by
people from a different nationality," he said.
Since such incidents involved those from a different nationality, the
incidents are hyped up by the media back home although such incidents are also
common in Indonesia itself or any other country where Indonesians worked, he
said.
"What we want to see is employers or individuals who abuse their workers,
are hauled up and punished according to the law," he said.
Recently Indonesia imposed a moratorium for sending workers to Malaysia and
both countries are in discussions on a number of issues, including minimum wages
and leave.
Seeking better relationship in areas of work force from Indonesia is
expected to be the main issue of a two-way discussion during Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Malaysia on Nov 11-12.
Susilo has chosen Malaysia as the first country for his official visit on
Nov 11, after being sworn in as Indonesian President for the second term
(2009-2014) on Oct 20, a reception also attended by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Among other issues expected to be discussed are those involving coastal
maritime border, food safety, energy and anti-terrorism.
Khairudin deemed Susilo's visit here as a very significant one that will
reflect the cordial relationship and help improve Malaysia-Indonesian ties that
stand to benefit both countries.
"If Malaysia and Indonesia strengthened their economy, culture and defence,
it will be a protruding event in Asia and many countries in Asia are afraid of
such a reality. As such, there are efforts by some to cause a rift between the
two countries," he said.
Khairudin said the good relationship between Indonesia-Malaysia had
benefited the people of both countries on a win-win situation.
On claims that there was discrimination in the period of handing out
punishment for offences involving Indonesians (fast) and Malaysians (slow), he
said such issues were raised because they did not understand the laws of the
country (Malaysia).
"For example, abused Nirmala Bonat's (Indonesian maid) employer Yim Pek Ha
was sentenced to 18 years jail by the court and the law allows here to appeal
and that caused delays to carry out her sentence," he said.
Yim has to fork out a huge sum of money to go through the appeal process and
payment of lawyers but Indonesian workers here cannot afford that kind of money
to lawyers or appeal process, so they serve the sentence early, he said.
"I propose the Indonesian government to allocate payment for legal fees so
that Indonesia workers here too can have such facilities. This is the actual
situation and the procedures of law, not discrimination as claimed.
"But some people in Indonesia are narrow minded and emotional. I urge my
fellow friends in Indonesia to not just look at Malaysia from Jakarta but come
to Malaysia and study, analyse the situation before making any comments," he
said.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Similarities in culture, language and
geographical proximity are reasons for Malaysia to remain an ideal place for
Indonesians to seek employment here.
With similarities in culture and language, it is easy for Malaysians to
understand why about two million Indonesians have blended with the Malay culture
and become accustomed to the way of life in Malaysia.
Indonesian Sociology Research director Khairudin Harahap said the
similarities are a drawing factor for the Indonesian people, especially the low
income group, to come to Malaysia in search of employment.
If they were to go to the United States or Hong Kong, it would be difficult
for them to communicate in English or Chinese, he said.
"So, Malaysia is an ideal place, especially so with the tolerance level of
the government and people of Malaysia, provided they abide by the rules and laws
of the country and not create social problems," said Khairudin in an exclusive
interview with Bernama.
Khairudin, an Indonesian who is now a permanent resident who has lived in
Malaysia for 28 years, said there are about 200,000 Indonesian maids while the
rest were construction workers, plantation workers and cleaners.
Apart from the two million workers, there are also about 3,000 professionals
from Indonesia working in companies like Petronas, MAS, AirAsia and banks.
He added that a number of issues involving Indonesian maids here were
unavoidable considering the presence of a large number of Indonesian workers
here.
"The presence of about two million Indonesians is as good as the total
population of a province in Indonesia or a state in Malaysia. If all the two
million lived in one state, there probably will be no problems.
"But what happens here are merely human tragedies and incidentally caused by
people from a different nationality," he said.
Since such incidents involved those from a different nationality, the
incidents are hyped up by the media back home although such incidents are also
common in Indonesia itself or any other country where Indonesians worked, he
said.
"What we want to see is employers or individuals who abuse their workers,
are hauled up and punished according to the law," he said.
Recently Indonesia imposed a moratorium for sending workers to Malaysia and
both countries are in discussions on a number of issues, including minimum wages
and leave.
Seeking better relationship in areas of work force from Indonesia is
expected to be the main issue of a two-way discussion during Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Malaysia on Nov 11-12.
Susilo has chosen Malaysia as the first country for his official visit on
Nov 11, after being sworn in as Indonesian President for the second term
(2009-2014) on Oct 20, a reception also attended by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Among other issues expected to be discussed are those involving coastal
maritime border, food safety, energy and anti-terrorism.
Khairudin deemed Susilo's visit here as a very significant one that will
reflect the cordial relationship and help improve Malaysia-Indonesian ties that
stand to benefit both countries.
"If Malaysia and Indonesia strengthened their economy, culture and defence,
it will be a protruding event in Asia and many countries in Asia are afraid of
such a reality. As such, there are efforts by some to cause a rift between the
two countries," he said.
Khairudin said the good relationship between Indonesia-Malaysia had
benefited the people of both countries on a win-win situation.
On claims that there was discrimination in the period of handing out
punishment for offences involving Indonesians (fast) and Malaysians (slow), he
said such issues were raised because they did not understand the laws of the
country (Malaysia).
"For example, abused Nirmala Bonat's (Indonesian maid) employer Yim Pek Ha
was sentenced to 18 years jail by the court and the law allows here to appeal
and that caused delays to carry out her sentence," he said.
Yim has to fork out a huge sum of money to go through the appeal process and
payment of lawyers but Indonesian workers here cannot afford that kind of money
to lawyers or appeal process, so they serve the sentence early, he said.
"I propose the Indonesian government to allocate payment for legal fees so
that Indonesia workers here too can have such facilities. This is the actual
situation and the procedures of law, not discrimination as claimed.
"But some people in Indonesia are narrow minded and emotional. I urge my
fellow friends in Indonesia to not just look at Malaysia from Jakarta but come
to Malaysia and study, analyse the situation before making any comments," he
said.
-- BERNAMA
