Jokowi Meets The Malaysian PM, The Minister Of SOEs, Please Improve Cooperation In The Protection Of Migrant Workers

Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir hopes that the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister His Excellency Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Indonesia will bring progress on cooperation between the two countries in the future.

Erick said, one of the things that can be developed between Malaysia and Indonesia this time is related to Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who are now making a lot of money in Malaysia.

Hopefully this meeting between President Jokowi and the Prime Minister of Malaysia can increase cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia. Maintaining the dignity of the same culture. Moreover, our people work a lot in Malaysia. They need protection and comfort in their work," said Erick, in an official statement, Monday, January 9.

The meeting was also uploaded to a social media account, his official Instagram @erickthohir, the Chairman of the Sharia Economic Community, revealed the role of state-owned companies in protecting Indonesian migrant workers. Including the facilities provided.

"We SOEs continue to keep Indonesian migrant workers abroad with the assistance of programs provided by BNI and the facilities when they return to Indonesia at Soekarno Hatta airport such as special routes for migrant workers and lounges to rest," Erick wrote.

Erick became one of the ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet Volume II who had the opportunity to meet with Anwar Ibrahim while accompanying President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to receive state guests from the neighboring country at the Bogor Presidential Palace, today.

Apparently, this is not the first time Erick has met Anwar Ibrahim. Erick said the first meeting took place in the 2000s. At that time, he was still leading one of the national newspapers in Indonesia, namely Republika.

At that time he became an inspiring and steadfast Southeast Asian political figure in fighting for justice. I also studied a lot of his political and economic thinking for Malaysia's future," said Erick.

As is known, President Jokowi welcomed Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to the Bogor Presidential Palace. This visit is PM Anwar Ibrahim's first official visit since his inauguration on November 24, 2022.

PM Anwar Ibrahim arrived at the Bogor Palace at around 10:00 WIB and was immediately greeted by President Jokowi. The arrival of the Head of the Malaysian Government was also accompanied by Indonesian troops, equestrian troops, and the music corps of the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres).

The welcoming procession was then continued with an official welcoming ceremony with the listening of the national anthem of the two countries and accompanied by a cannon boom of 19 times. After the cannon boom was over, the two leaders then inspected the honorary troops.

The two leaders then introduced delegates from each country who attended the ceremony.

The Indonesian delegates who attended were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto.

Then, Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah, Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir, Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia, Head of IKN Authority Bambang Susantono, Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono, and Director General of Asia Pacific and Africa Abdul Kadir Jailani.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian delegation who attended were Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato with the Seri Diraja Zambry Abd Kadir, Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, and Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dato Sri Amran Mohamed Zin.

After introducing their respective delegates, President Jokowi then invited PM Anwar to take a photo together and sign a guest book in the Lotus Room, Bogor Palace.

The event continued with planting Merawan Tree (Hopea odorata) together by President Jokowi and PM Anwar.