REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly has appealed to the Malaysian government to show respect and give recognition to the Indonesian migrant workers employed in the country.
"This is not the first time that such a humiliating incident has occurred in Malaysia. It has occurred several times," Yasonna emphasized here on Thursday.
The minister expressed her concerns regarding the RoboVac vacuum cleaner advertisement bearing the words, "Fire Your Indonesian Maid Now" in the standing banner and the website.
Yasonna hoped that the Malaysian government will issue a warning to the company following the advertisement that offended Indonesian nationals.
"Let the Malaysian government handle the problem," Yasonna noted.
The minister said that a large number of Indonesian migrant workers were employed in Malaysia. However, not all of them worked as housemaids.
Several Indonesian workers were employed in the formal sector in Malaysia such as those working in palm oil plantations that require specific skills.
"Thus, the Indonesian migrant workers have given positive contribution to Malaysia. I hope we can respect each other," the minister emphasized.
The minister stated that the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Malaysia can hopefully help to find a quick solution to the problem.
The Indonesian Embassy to Malaysia has sent a memorandum of objection to the Malaysian authority to ban the advertisement, including that published on the company's website.
The Embassy has also urged the Malaysian government to take firm action to ensure that such racial advertisements that demean the people of other countries, including Indonesia, should not be published again.
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