SBY to visit Malaysia to discuss migrant worker issues

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will soon visit Malaysia for talks on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers employed in the neighboring country.

While the fixed date for the trip has not been set, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Wednesday that issues surrounding the condition and fate of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia would be among the topics of discussion between leaders of the two countries.

The plan comes on the heel of the death of Indonesian domestic worker Muntik, 47, due to alleged abuse.

According to Dino, the President was “very concerned” about the death of Muntik and asked that justice would be upheld.

“Whatever her status, this [alleged abuse] is a crime. Her status is another problem. We hope the Malaysian government will take action against the perpetrators and bring them to justice in accordance with Malaysian law,” Dino said.

Muntik, from the East Java town of Jember, died at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Selangor on Monday. She was allegedly abused by her employers. Antara reported that Muntik had been shaved bald, beaten with steel, and told to sleep inside a toilet.

The Malaysian police raided the house of Muntik’s employers and admitted her to the hospital following a report from an Indian-Malaysian lawyer.

In a press statement sent to The Jakarta Post, the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry said the Malaysian government expressed its “deepest sympathy and condolences” to the family of Muntik and to Indonesians in general, and promised to take legal measures against the perpetrators.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to stress that the Government of Malaysia strongly condemns all forms of abuse against any workers, regardless of nationality or sector of employment.”