DECEMBER 13 — The biggest Indonesian brand in recent years is arguably "Jokowi”, officially known as Joko Widodo, the 7th president of the Republic of Indonesia. On social media we see him often dressed casually, visiting markets or dropping by neighbourhoods to engage the local populace. In another video not too long ago, it featured Jokowi’s eldest son married to a catholic girl and he told of his constant interactions with the Catholic community during his work. Often these shared videos will carry viewer lamentations like - why can’t we have a PM like this, and, he should be our PM!

Oh yes, there is Sinetron (sitcom or soap opera) which has a huge following on Astro tv.

Fifty years earlier their brand was in the name of Rudy Hartono. He won the All-England men’s singles title consecutively from 1968 to 1974, and the eighth time in 1976. Indonesia still remains a top badminton nation.

Sixty years ago there was a serious blot in the Indonesia: Malaysia relationship when Sukarno, their 1st president opposed most fervently the creation of the Federation of Malaysia. It resulted in an armed conflict known as Konfrantasi (1963-66) which ended when Sukarno was deposed through a military coup. He remained under house arrest until his death in 1970.

The Indonesian ambassador

Hermono was appointed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Malaysia in October 2020. Prior to this he served in the same capacity in Spain. This is his second posting to Kuala Lumpur, besides stints in Colombia, Uzbekistan and New Zealand.

He had a most unusual route towards a career in diplomacy. In 1984 the Foreign Ministry decided to offer scholarships to high-achieving final year students in selected universities and Hermono was short-listed by his business administration faculty. He passed the interview and became a Foreign Ministry scholar in his final year in 1985. In early 1986 the Ministry became his employer.

Hermono’s batch was the one and only recruitment done in this way.

Did Hermono at any time as an undergrad fashion a career in diplomacy? No. Affable and forthright in mannerism he said he was drawn towards the scholarship offering because it would have relieved his parents of the tuition fees and monthly living allowances. Besides, the quantum he would get was like a continuing windfall; from 45,000 rupiah to 70,000 rupiah monthly! I could see him gushing in delight when telling this even nearly 40 years on.

Hermono married Kiki when he was 27 years old and they are blessed with daughter Kania Iryanindiati and son Ardian Silvandianto who are currently working in London and Wellington respectively. Kania who works for Deloitte will soon be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur office.

Hermono is the 17th Ambassador posted to Malaysia. The average tenure is three to four years.

By the way, the Javanese culture do not practice having surnames, hence he is plain Hermono. In filling international forms where "first and last names” are required, he is Hermono, and Hermono!

Foreign Service is National Service defined

Their Foreign Affairs cabinet ministers are drawn from serving diplomats. And to illustrate their pivotal role — if for any reason the nation’s president and vice president are both incapacitated the highest authority in government would comprise the tripartite committee of the Foreign, Home and Defence ministers. This committee will be discontinued once the two highest offices are filled.

The civil service retirement age is at 60, but this rule doesn’t apply for serving ambassadors. Hermono is 62.

The embassy in KL employs a little over 200 staff with 90 per cent Indonesians. It is complemented by four consulate generals based in Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Penang, with a consulate in Tawau. The Malaysian mission with total staff strength of around 300 is the largest among their 95 embassies, three permanent representatives, 30 consulate generals and four consulates worldwide.

Bilateral relationship

Our people to people ties have always been very close because we are emotionally connected through family and we speak the same base language.

However the "sore thumb” in our G to G relationship is the lack of control over the proliferation of undocumented workers and the insufficient courtesy and protection provided to those with work permits.

Presently the embassy has issued 375,000 work permits for jobs of all descriptions but there exists another 1.3million to 1.5 million (World Bank 2019) undocumented workers in Malaysia. The latter has caused multiple problems particularly on the treatment by errant employers or when hauled to Immigration detention centres

These centres are half-way houses for political refugees and illegal immigrants (read undocumented workers) pending repatriation. International and local NGOs on fact finding missions have reported that detainees face severe overcrowding, grossly unhygienic conditions, food scarcity, and various types of punishments meted out. Contracting scabies, pneumonia, tuberculosis and other bacterial diseases are common place.

The most recent incident which caught public attention is the "food and health crisis” at the Kimanis centre in Sabah.

It appears like detainees have virtually zero rights. Home is usually thousands of kilometers away and their loved ones may have no inkling on what is happening to the detainees.

I asked Hermono about his country’s position since Indonesians form a significant number of those detained.

He said that both nations must adopt the two-prong strategy. While Indonesia can control the exit of "dubious” travelers, Malaysia must be more stringent in enforcing the Immigration Act which forbade the hiring of undocumented workers. Doesn’t it make one wonder that if so many of these workers are nabbed and yet we hardly hear of the prosecution of errant employers?

Labelled as illegal workers by the authorities, they are wholly vulnerable to the whims of unconscionable employers. There have been so many horror stories on beatings, all kinds of depravations and non-payment of wages. This is continually happening in the 21st century in a supposedly civilized society! And all the workers seek was hopefully a better life for themselves and their families.

Hermono continues. In all bilateral discussions "Protection of Indonesian workers” would invariably be the top of the agenda. A recent initiative was the adoption of the "One Channel System” (OCS) in place of the Sistem Maid Online (SMO) and Journey Performed Visa (JPV). The OSC was to plug some shortcomings in the SMO and JPV. The signing was witnessed by their President and our then Prime Minister.

Lo and behold our then Home Minister announced that his ministry never agreed to the OCS and if Indonesia were adamant, then Malaysia will look elsewhere for our much needed workers. Sacre Bleu, what was he thinking?

OCS is now in operation.

Is Hermono optimistic that things will improve with the Anwar Ibrahim administration? He gave me a broadest smile and I believe he nodded affirmatively.

Postscript

Hermono proudly informed that Jokowi was the first Head of Government to make the congratulatory call to PM Anwar. And Anwar took the call while speaking at a press conference.

Malaysia desperately needs workers in the Plantation, Manufacturing and Construction sectors, as announced by our Human Resources minister. And Indonesia is prepared to supply. It’s a win: win.

A poser — isn’t "domestic/household assistant” more appropriate and better sounding than "maids”? Surely they deserve some dignity for the quite invaluable services they provide?

* Datuk Lee Yew Meng had a career of over 40 years in the communications industry.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.