MoU Signing With Malaysia Regarding Migrant Workers, Jokowi: Don't Stop On Paper

Screenshot of President Joko Widodo Prime Minister (PM) of Malaysia Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yakob (Presidential Secretariat Youtube/Wardhany T)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or the memorandum of understanding on the placement and protection of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in the domestic sector in Malaysia be executed properly.

This was conveyed by President Jokowi after witnessing the signing of the MoU by the Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah and Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Datu Seri Saravanan today, Friday, April 1 at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

Judging from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube show, Jokowi asked that the agreement between the two countries be carried out and not stop on paper.

"I believe this MoU can be implemented properly and I don't want this MoU to only stop on paper. All parties must carry out the MoU properly," said Jokowi accompanied by Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Jokowi said the MoU that had been signed included, among other things, regulating the use of a one-channel system for the entire process of placing, monitoring and returning Indonesian migrant workers. According to him, this step is appropriate considering that PMI also contributes to developing the economy in Malaysia.

"It is natural for them to get maximum rights and protection from our two countries," said the former governor of DKI Jakarta.

Furthermore, Jokowi hopes that in the future, the cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia can be expanded, including in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

In addition, he wants the meeting between Indonesia and Malaysia to be able to simultaneously discuss many issues. One of them is about people smuggling, which is still happening so that the law can be enforced.

Finally, Jokowi also said that this meeting was important in order to complete negotiations on maritime and air boundaries. Moreover, the border between the two countries has now been opened, so this discussion needs to be completed.

"Another thing we will discuss again in this meeting is the importance of completing negotiations on maritime and air boundaries," said Jokowi.

"With the opening of the border between the two countries, it is time for these negotiations to be intensified," he concluded.