ID :
88683
Mon, 11/09/2009 - 16:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/88683
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SUSILO'S VISIT EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN TESTED MALAYSIA-INDONESIA TIES
SUSILO'S VISIT EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN TESTED MALAYSIA-INDONESIA TIES
By Jamaluddin Muhammad
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral ties over the
past six months were tested by provocative acts by the media and a small group
of people in Indonesia as well as the abuse of Indonesian maids by a small
number of their Malaysian employers.
The first of these came in June when a news report from Indonesia alleged
trespass by a Royal Malaysian Navy vessel in the Malaysia-Indonesia disputed
territorial waters of Ambalat, a report which was denied by the Malaysian Chief
of Defence Forces Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal.
Then, in September, a vigilante group calling itself Benteng Demokratik
Rakyat (Bendera) held a demonstration in Jakarta and wanted to "sweep"
Malaysians there.
They alleged theft by Malaysia of the Balinese Pendet dance, which was
featured by accident in a tourism promotion video clip over Discovery Channel.
The channel has since apologised for the mistake.
The provocative acts did not stop there as the same group declared it would
attack Malaysia in early October with swords and bamboo spears to avenge alleged
wrongs committed against Indonesians in this country.
Neither President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia nor Malaysian Prime
Minister Najib Razak responded to the provocation, both leaders realising that
it did not represent the voice of the majority of their peoples or their
respective government's stand on the issue.
On the Ambalat issue, both countries believed it could be resolved through
diplomatic channels based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
1982.
Ambalat, located east of Kalimantan and South-east of East Malaysia state of
Sabah, is said to be rich in crude oil and has been claimed by Malaysia and
Indonesia since the 1960's.
Despite all the provocative acts, Malaysia rose to the occasion and extended
a hand when Indonesia was hit by an earthquake in early October, channelling
three type of assistance -- search and rescue, medical relief and humanitarian
aid.
The only strong signal sent by the Indonesian authorities in the past six
months was the temporary cessation of the supply of maids to Malaysia from June
25 following reports of maid abuse by a few Malaysian employers. Both countries
are trying to settle the issue through negotiation.
Malaysia is helping in the matter by including a mandatory day off in a week
for the maid, a review of the cost of bringing in maids which will benefit the
employee and not the agent, as well as protection under the Employment Act,
provisions for which are to be tabled at the current sitting of the Lower House
of Parliament.
Although the reported cases of abuse of Indonesian maids as well as harm
inflicted on Malaysian employers by maids were still small compared to the
300,000 Indonesian maids working in this country, leaders of both nations have
taken the matter seriously.
Both countries are aware that the laws of Malaysia do not discriminate
against nationalities or the employee-employer status when dealing with the
crime committed.
Malaysia-Indonesia relations boil down to three aspects --
government-to-government, the business community, and people-to-people.
Najib and Susilo shake hands with a firm grip whenever they meet as they
realise that their relationship as well as their countries' bilateral ties
cannot be jeopardised by insignificant issues.
As Najib has put it: "Malaysia and Indonesia have very close relations and
both countries can work together to play a bigger role in the region."
The leaders are very close to each other, to the extent that they can just
pick up the phone and talk.
Najib had said that both countries can synergise their energies to play a
bigger role on matters like the economy, climate change, disaster management and
regional security.
Their closeness will send a strong message to the troublemakers.
Thus, Susilo's two-day visit to Malaysia beginning Wednesday is expected to
further strengthen the existing cordial relations between the two leaders and
countries.
-- BERNAMA
By Jamaluddin Muhammad
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral ties over the
past six months were tested by provocative acts by the media and a small group
of people in Indonesia as well as the abuse of Indonesian maids by a small
number of their Malaysian employers.
The first of these came in June when a news report from Indonesia alleged
trespass by a Royal Malaysian Navy vessel in the Malaysia-Indonesia disputed
territorial waters of Ambalat, a report which was denied by the Malaysian Chief
of Defence Forces Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal.
Then, in September, a vigilante group calling itself Benteng Demokratik
Rakyat (Bendera) held a demonstration in Jakarta and wanted to "sweep"
Malaysians there.
They alleged theft by Malaysia of the Balinese Pendet dance, which was
featured by accident in a tourism promotion video clip over Discovery Channel.
The channel has since apologised for the mistake.
The provocative acts did not stop there as the same group declared it would
attack Malaysia in early October with swords and bamboo spears to avenge alleged
wrongs committed against Indonesians in this country.
Neither President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia nor Malaysian Prime
Minister Najib Razak responded to the provocation, both leaders realising that
it did not represent the voice of the majority of their peoples or their
respective government's stand on the issue.
On the Ambalat issue, both countries believed it could be resolved through
diplomatic channels based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
1982.
Ambalat, located east of Kalimantan and South-east of East Malaysia state of
Sabah, is said to be rich in crude oil and has been claimed by Malaysia and
Indonesia since the 1960's.
Despite all the provocative acts, Malaysia rose to the occasion and extended
a hand when Indonesia was hit by an earthquake in early October, channelling
three type of assistance -- search and rescue, medical relief and humanitarian
aid.
The only strong signal sent by the Indonesian authorities in the past six
months was the temporary cessation of the supply of maids to Malaysia from June
25 following reports of maid abuse by a few Malaysian employers. Both countries
are trying to settle the issue through negotiation.
Malaysia is helping in the matter by including a mandatory day off in a week
for the maid, a review of the cost of bringing in maids which will benefit the
employee and not the agent, as well as protection under the Employment Act,
provisions for which are to be tabled at the current sitting of the Lower House
of Parliament.
Although the reported cases of abuse of Indonesian maids as well as harm
inflicted on Malaysian employers by maids were still small compared to the
300,000 Indonesian maids working in this country, leaders of both nations have
taken the matter seriously.
Both countries are aware that the laws of Malaysia do not discriminate
against nationalities or the employee-employer status when dealing with the
crime committed.
Malaysia-Indonesia relations boil down to three aspects --
government-to-government, the business community, and people-to-people.
Najib and Susilo shake hands with a firm grip whenever they meet as they
realise that their relationship as well as their countries' bilateral ties
cannot be jeopardised by insignificant issues.
As Najib has put it: "Malaysia and Indonesia have very close relations and
both countries can work together to play a bigger role in the region."
The leaders are very close to each other, to the extent that they can just
pick up the phone and talk.
Najib had said that both countries can synergise their energies to play a
bigger role on matters like the economy, climate change, disaster management and
regional security.
Their closeness will send a strong message to the troublemakers.
Thus, Susilo's two-day visit to Malaysia beginning Wednesday is expected to
further strengthen the existing cordial relations between the two leaders and
countries.
-- BERNAMA
