It really is time for Malaysia to abolish the death penalty. We know that the UMNO-led BN government still wants to maintain the death penalty - but it is good that some of its members want it abolished. [see earlier post:- Nazri reiterates call for abolition of death penalty...]
What is the position of Anwar, Lim Kit Siang, Nik Aziz,...PKR, DAP, PAS, PRM....on the this issue? Are they for the abolition of the death penalty or not? The power to save lives of those in death row is with Sultans...Will PR State Sultans start commuting death sentences to prison terms? Abolish Death Penalty
Reiterate that the campaign to save young Malaysian from Sabah, Yong Vui Kong, is on-going...and those who who would like to sign the Online Petition should do so...Give Yong Vui Kong a Second Chance. Vui Kong’s clemency deadline has been extended.[See post:-Vui Kong given more time to seek clemency, Petition begging President SR Nathan to spare Vui Kong’s life submitted]
Kuala Lumpur, Sept 8 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian and Malaysian foreign ministers in their meeting in Kinabalu also discussed protection of Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) in Malaysia, besides territorial borders and the August 13 Bintan waters incident which had strained the bilateral relations.
"The discussions on TKI protection included Indonesia`s request that Malaysia reduced the death sentences it had imposed on Indonesian criminals," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said in a joint press conference with his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman in Kinabalu city on Monday.
"We still respect the law in Malaysia, but we are still wishing Malaysia would reduce the death sentences it had imposed on Indonesians for the crime that had committed in that country, and also considering the close relations between the two countries and on humanitarian consideratons," he said.
"We will convey Indonesia`s request to Yang DiPertuan Agong and the Sultan for consideration," Anifah Aman said.
According to the Indonesian embassy, 177 Indonesian migrant workers are facing the death sentence imposed on them by the Malaysian court for their crimes, including drug trafficking, murder, or in illegal possession of arms.
Of the 177, only 70 had been sentenced to death, including 3 had been sentenced by the Malaysian supreme court. Only the pardon of the Malaysian Sultan and Yang Dipertuan Agung could save them from the death by hanging.
In addition, Anifah Aman said, Malaysia agreed to discuss the Indonesian request on mandatory consular notification (MCN) under which Malaysian law enforcement personnel are required to inform representatives or the Idonesian embassy of the arrest of Indonesians for their crime.
"We will coordinate with the Malaysian domestic affairs ministry and the police to give information to representatives or the Indonesian embassy of the arrest of their people for crime they had committed. Representatives will also be given the chance to meet their people being arrested," Anifah said.
The two foreign ministers also agreed that the LoI on the recruitment and placement of Indonesian domestic helpers to Malaysia would soon be enhanced to MoU, which will give more protection to Indonesian house maids, because of the agreement including that one`s passport will be held by the employee who will be given a day off every week.
"We hope the MoU would be signed soon and an Indonesian government decision to stop sending domestic helpers to Malaysia since June 26, 2009, could be revoked. So that Indonesia would again be able to send domestic helpers to Malaysia," the Malaysian foreign minister said.
Malaysia will also discuss Indonesia`s proposal on education for the children of TKIs in Sabah. "It is estimated that there are about 50,000 TKI children in the oil palm estates in Sabah without access to formal education," Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Da`i Bachtiar said.
"We are very concerned about the many children of Indonesian workers without access to formal education in Sabah. We will discuss the matter with the relevant government agencies like the home affairs ministry and the education ministry," Anifah Aman said.
Marty Natalegawa and Anifah Aman began their talks on Monday from 3 pm to 4 pm, to be continued with a joint meeting of the two delegations until 5.15 pm. (ANTARA) - MCOT, 8/9/2010,RI, Malaysian foreign ministers touch on workers protection
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