Migrant Workers Key to Easing Malaysia-Indonesia Tensions

Jakarta Globe, February 2, 2009

Sally Piri

A forum established to improve the often patchy relationship between Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia has identified Indonesian migrant workers as one of the key areas of bilateral concern needing to be addressed, Presidential Spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said on Monday.

Indonesian members of the Indonesia-Malaysia Eminent Persons Group met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday to outline an initial list of recommendations and observations. Led by former vice president Army Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno, the delegation offered few details about the list but did note the importance of migrant workers.

"Political and social disputes between Indonesia and Malaysia often have connections to migrant worker issues," Dino said, adding that the issue had become one of the priorities for the Yudhoyono administration.

Dino said that the recommendation on migrant workers provided by the group was expected to substantially ease bilateral tensions. "This [migrant workers] is an important aspect of the group's discussions," he said.

Long-standing issues hampering relations between the countries are many and varied. A recent source of contention, however, particularly in the eyes of Indonesians, is perceived Malaysian claims over such Indonesian cultural items as Batik and traditional dances.

"The group delivered its initial observations and recommendations, which will become part of the complete recommendations provided by the Eminent Persons Group," said Dino at the presidential office.

The group was officially formed on July 7, 2008 as a result of a meeting between Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Malaysia on January 11, and Dino said that announcement of the full set of recommendations would have to wait until the two leaders meet again.

"We are planning on holding a bilateral meeting between President Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister in the middle of March. And during the meeting, the recommendations provided by the Eminent Persons Group will be presented," he said.

Dino said that during the meeting with President, the group discussed areas of cooperation between the two countries, including on migrant workers, which he described as a sensitive issue.