The Home Ministry has assured the safety of 1.8 million Indonesian workers and students in the country following flare-ups over a misunderstanding on a Balinese dance in the republic.Its minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the ministry would curtail any retaliation against the protests.
"Despite the provocations, pressure, humiliation and threats, we will ensure their (Indonesian workers and students) safety," he told reporters after attending the Umno Supreme Council meeting at the PWTC here Friday.
Members of a group calling itself Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera), who armed themselves with sharpened bamboo sticks, mounted a roadblock in Jalan Diponegoro, Jakarta on Tuesday to look for Malaysians to shoo them off the country.
The flare-ups emanated over the Pendet dance of Bali put up by a production house in Singapore for a Discovery Channel programme on Malaysia. Discovery Channel has since apologised for the mistake.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad urged the Indonesian government to resolve the issue to ensure that bilateral ties between the republic and Malaysia would not be affected.
"I am saddened over the incident. It involved a small group of people with violence tendency. They want to go to war over a trivial issue. We don't do that here," he said after presenting Aidilfitri aid and the Perkim President Seri Cemerlang Award here today.
In Muar, Inspector-General of Police said Indonesian police chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Danuri told him that six individuals, who were involved in the "Sweeping Malaysians" incident had been arrested.
"He (Bambang) called me up and told me about the arrest," Musa told reporters after launching a road safety campaign in conjunction with the 20th Ops Sikap organised by the police and Telekom Malaysia at Dataran Tanjung Emas here today.
Musa said it was a small issue blown out of proportion by the Indonesian media and called on Malaysians not to be drawn into the controversy.
Source : Bernama















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