KUCHING, April 1: Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to identify areas needed to be intensively developed by both sides in view of Indonesia’s upcoming new capital city named Nusantara in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob emphasised that there are investment potentials for Malaysia in East Kalimantan with the opening of Nusantara.
“We (Malaysia and Indonesia) have agreed that development in the border areas will be intensified.
“I am grateful to Bapa President (Indonesia President Joko Widodo) for agreeing with us to identify areas that will be developed by Malaysia investors in Nusantara later,” he said in his text-of-speech during a press conference at Istana Merdeka in conjunction with his official working visit to Jakarta, Indonesia today.
In the visit, Ismail and Widodo also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Recruitment and Protection of Indonesian Domestic Services (PDI).
This MoU is to ensure all recruitment processes and protection mechanisms for Indonesian domestic workers will be implemented comprehensively by the parties involved, according to the policies and laws of both countries.
“The signing of this MoU is a momentous occasion because it demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia to provide great and lasting benefits to the people of both countries.
“Malaysia always appreciates and welcomes the contribution of Indonesian migrant workers to the development of the nation’s economy and people’s lives,” he said.
Ismail pointed out that both countries have agreed to use the One Channel System which is important for the screening of employers eligible to employ PDI.
“The signing of this MoU will also serve as the first step towards the re-entry of Indonesian manpower (TKI) for employment in permitted sectors in Malaysia,” he added.
He also revealed that the Malaysia government has implemented several initiatives to ensure the welfare of the domestic workers including contribution through Social Security Organisation (Socso), salary payment through e-Wages to guarantee payment made no later than the seventh day of the month, one off days per week, introduction of an e-aduan app to enable workers to file complaints online as well as other welfare matters covered in the service contract. — DayakDaily
