Bendera’s empty call

PUTRAJAYA: Most Indonesians will not abandon their jobs here, not when there is no guarantee of jobs and income back home, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“In all sincerity, I think they (Indonesians) appreciate what we have done for them and we, too, appreciate their contribution and service to us.

“Both parties are dependent on one another. We appreciate each contribution and help. I think this should be the basis for Indonesians here to consider and not calls by certain parties back home.

“Even if they do go home, there is no guarantee that Bendera or any other party can offer them jobs and income,” the Deputy Prime Minister said, responding to the call by nationalist group Bendera for the two million Indonesian workers in Malaysia to be recalled in order to protect the country’s honour and sovereignty.

The group’s coordinator, Mustar Bona Ventura Manurung, also demanded that once all the Indonesians had returned, its government should sever diplomatic relations with Kuala Lumpur.

Anti-Malaysia protests had erupted in front of the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta after three Indonesian maritime officers were detained following the arrest of seven local fishermen for alleged encroachment.

They were released on Aug 17.

The maritime officers had told Indonesian lawmakers that they were handcuffed during the incident.

Malaysia had said it would not apologise should the claims be true and neither would there be a demand for an apology from Indonesia for the flag-burning and faeces-throwing incidents by Bendera at its embassy.

Reiterating there was no reason to extend any apology, Muhyiddin said whatever issue that arose between the two countries needed to be resolved amicably and diplomatically.

“We want our relationship to be for the long term to benefit both Malaysia and Indonesia and their people. Therefore, we need to be rational.

“Decisions and actions taken by the two governments will not be based on the sentiments of a small group of people who probably have ulterior motives.

“The foreign ministers (of Malaysia and Indonesia) will be meeting on Monday. Let them work things out because we should not be making decisions which will have a negative effect on the people and country,” he added.

Meanwhile in Sepang, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hisham­muddin Hussein gave his assurance that Indonesians in Malaysia would be safe and there had not been any backlash by Malaysians in relation to the recent anti-Malaysia rampage in Indonesia.

He also welcomed Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudho­yono’s statement, which stressed on the importance of resolving problems between both countries wisely.

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