Maid Moratorium Among Closely-watched Issues At Annual Consultation

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

MATARAM (Indonesia), Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The maid moratorium imposed by Indonesia is expected to be discussed at the Malaysia-Indonesia Annual Consultation here attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Thursday.

A decision may be expected at the meeting in view of the fact that there has been no visible move to pull back the moratorium even after five months since the signing of an amendment to the 2006 memorandum of understanding on recruitment and placement of Indonesian domestic workers, in Bandung on May 30.

Both sides have, reportedly, not decided on the mechanism to implement the memorandum, particularly in the context of providing protection to the workers and their employers.

Indonesia imposed the moratorium on June 26, 2009 in the wake of abuse cases involving Indonesian maids at the hands of their employers, notwithstanding the actions taken by Malaysia against these offenders, including prosecuting them in court.

The annual consultation, hosted alternately by Malaysia and Indonesia, provides an avenue for leaders of both countries to thrash out issues affecting bilateral relations.

The meeting is also set to take place amid intense media report over the purported land grab by Malaysia. Both Malaysia and Indonesia have denied such incidence ever occurred.

Another outstanding issue is the one concerning the Ambalat maritime boundary which has seen no conclusion thus far even after 20 meetings at the officials' level.

Najib is scheduled to arrive here Thursday, accompanied by wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

His delegation comprises six ministers and a deputy minister, namely Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam and Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin Syed Hassan said he was confident that both leaders would be able to find the best solution to these issues.

"What is certain is that the Malaysia-Indonesia ties should continue to be strengthened. People-to-people relations are also crucial in promoting the cordial ties," he said.