President Megawati Asks National Police to Monitor Crime in Areas Bordering Malaysia

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:President Megawati Soekarnoputri called on the National Police to monitor transnational crime at areas bordering with Malaysia. The President made this statement when she met Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Hadi A. Wayarabi, at the Merdeka Palace today (15/2). Wayarabi is to meet National Police Chief General Da’i Bachtiar this evening. He went on to say that the police should tighten security measures at the border area. Wayarabi added that illegal acts committed at areas bordering with Malaysia include arms and log smuggling as well as white slavery, although the latter act has been hard to prove. So far, white slavery or human trading has involved prostitution. “The indications point in that direction,” he said. Regarding arms and log smuggling, Wayarabi said, the perpetrators do their transactions from Kalimantan. Exporting log is actually prohibited. However, as long as the price of log overseas keep rising, people will keep smuggling it out. “We have to prevent such illegal acts, although the ban on exporting log has hit the Malaysian wood industry,” he said. Regarding Indonesian workers in Malaysia, Wayarabi explained that he had reported to the President of the Malaysian government’s decision to recruit foreign employee through government to government (G to G) approach. This matter would be discussed at the joint commission of Foreign Ministers of the two countries to be held in Kuala Lumpur next week. “But we will continue to involve the private enterprise in executing the practical work,” he said. (Dede – Tempo News Room)