Indonesia and Malaysia Meet for First Summit Since Covid-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo have received Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yasin at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Friday, February 5, for the first major summit between both countries since the latter took office in March 5th, 2020.

The high-level meeting is also the first of its kind during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The two leaders touched on a number of bilateral and multilateral issues, namely protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, the military coup in Myanmar, and the European Union ban on palm oil from both countries.

Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia

“I have requested President [Jokowi’s] cooperation to ensure that Indonesian nationals wishing to work in Malaysia enter the country through legitimate channels," Muhyiddin said.

"I also appreciated the President's cooperation in easing the process to deport illegal [Indonesian] workers in Malaysia.”

He added that “the Malaysian government has two programs for migrant workers called the Repatriation Recalibration Program [PRP] and the Labor Recalibration Program or PRTK that will aid Indonesian workers wishing to go home or wish to continue working in Malaysia.”

KOMPAS.COM/HADI MAULANA The government is pushing to complete a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysia on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers.

Also read: Indonesian Migrant Worker Torture Case Prompts MoU Talks With Malaysia

Muhyiddin urged President Jokowi to orient [Indonesian workers] about the program, which will last until June 30th, 2021

He assured that Malaysia will continue cooperating with Indonesia to ensure that the recruitment and protection of Indonesian workers in Malaysia.

“We will draw up a Memorandum of Understanding on the Employment and Protection of Indonesian Domestic Workers in Malaysia. The document will be in line with [Indonesian and Malaysian] labor laws,” he asserted.

President Jokowi reiterated Muhyiddin. “Indonesia and Malaysia need to develop a ‘one channel system’ to improve the placement of [Indonesian] workers, and protect them from human trafficking,” he noted.

“I also thank the Malaysian government for protecting Indonesian workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, and I entrust Indonesian laborers into their care. ”

AFP/SAI AUNG MAIN (FILES) In this file photo taken on February 12, 2020, members of the Myanmar military honour guard take part in a ceremony to mark the 73rd National Union Day in Yangon. - Myanmar's army chief has raised on January 27, 2021 the prospect of scrapping the country's constitution as fears swirl about a possible coup by the military over electoral fraud concerns.

The situation in Myanmar

Jokowi highlighted the need for both Indonesia dan Malaysia to hold an ASEAN meeting to touch on the situation in Myanmar, after the country’s military ousted the civilian government of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi.