Minister Marsudi Concludes Visit To Malaysia

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi on Saturday concluded her visit to Penang and Johor Bahru, Malaysia, in an effort to promote the protection of Indonesian workers in the neighboring country.

During her visit, Minister Marsudi called on the Consulate Generals (KJRIs) in Penang and Johor Bahru to improve public services for the Indonesian citizens in Malaysia, the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated here on Saturday.

"Innovations in public services by the Indonesian Government representative is a must," Minister Marsudi noted during her visit in Johor Bahru.

Minister Marsudi launched an Indonesian Community Center (ICC) as a clinical facility and a skill training center for the Indonesian workers in Johor Bahru.

The minister also launched a system for online passport application and a cashless service system for consular services in the KJRI of Penang.

During the four-day visit, Minister Marsudi had also visited several centers of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, such as in the Plexus Riverside in Penang, the KLK Plantation in Ladang Pelam, Kedah, and the Kulim Berhad palm oil plantation in Johor Bahru.

Minister Marsudi met and held a dialog with the Indonesian workers as well as spoke to managements of the enterprises to call for enhancing the protection of Indonesian workers.

Several problems have been communicated to the managements and will also be highlighted to the local government of Malaysia.

Earlier on Thursday, Minister Marsudi met Penang's Head of State Haji Abdul Rahman in Puri Seri Mutiara of Penang.

Rahman expressed gratitude for the contribution of Indonesian workers in the development of Malaysia.

During a press briefing in Jakarta on Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir stated that the main objective of the minister's visit was to boost the protection of Indonesian citizens in Malaysia, particularly in Penang and Johor Bahru.

Around 1.4 million registered Indonesians live in Malaysia.

In Penang, there are around 80 thousand Indonesians, of which most are employed in palm oil plantations or in the manufacturing industry, Nasir revealed.

Meanwhile, around 347 thousand Indonesians live in Johor Bahru.

The Indonesian government has outlined three strategies to protect its citizens overseas: prevention, early detection, and immediate response.

"The minister will encourage the application of these three strategies during her visit to the two places," Nasir noted. (WDY)