"I am sure they do not even know how many Indonesian workers are there in Malaysia."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Muhammadiyah youth organization chairman Saleh P Daulay has questioned the government`s commitment to the protection of Indonesian migrant workers overseas.

"A migrant worker who was raped by three Malaysian police officers recently, reported the case to a politician of Barisan Nasional. Why did she not report it to the Indonesian embassy or consulate office?" he asked, while speaking to ANTARA News recently.

"I think the worker faced difficulties relating to bureaucratic procedures and services at the embassy or consulate when she wanted to report the rape case. Therefore, perhaps, she chose to report it to Lau Chiek Tuan, a coordinator of the ruling Barisan Nasional party at Bukit Mertajam," Daulay said.

"All Indonesian migrant workers should be given the telephone numbers of the Indonesian embassy and consulate so they can contact them in case of emergencies. Why otherwise would she report the rape case to a local politician?" he pointed out.

Had Lau Chiek Tuan not reported the rape case to the police, Daulay added, the Indonesian government and public would never have known of it.

"So what is the use of having a Manpower and Transmigration Ministry and the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) if they just send workers overseas but fail to give them protection?" he asked.

Daulay urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to review the performances of Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar and BNP2TKI Chairman Moh Jumhur Hidayat.

"I am sure they do not even know how many Indonesian workers are there in Malaysia. Because, according to the information I have received, 60 percent of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia are working there illegally," he stated.

Daulay said he had already met with Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Dato Syed Afdzaruddin Syed Hassan and sought clarification on the rape case.

"The Malaysian ambassador has promised that the Malaysian law will deal with the police officers who have allegedly committed the rape. If found guilty, they could be sentenced to whipping and up to 20 years in prison," he added.
(Uu.D018/F001/INE/KR-BSR)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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