On the way to APEC Summit in Singapore, On 11 November 2009, President SBY took a visit to Malaysia to meet with his counterpart, Prime Minister Najib. SBY was accompanied by the new Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, Muhaimin Iskandar, and 4 others ministers. It was the first country that SBY visit after his inauguration on 20 October 2009.
There is certain urgency that SBY has to stopover in Malaysia as recently many incidents happened towards Indonesian Overseas Workers (TKI) in Malaysia, from the maltreatment of Siti Hajar on July 2009, Moratorium by Indonesian, deadlock of Inter-dept meeting between RI-Malaysia until the recent death of Muntik Bani because of maltreatment by her employer which forced Indonesian Foreign Affair department to issue Diplomatic Notes towards Malaysia
On his press conference with Prime Minister Najib, SBY expressed his satisfaction of good progress on legal protection towards TKI in Malaysia nevertheless SBY hopes improvement still continues in the future by both countries. Based on year-to-year evaluation by Indonesian Government, compare with previous years, Malaysia has made significant improvement towards in terms of protection of foreign workers, Right fulfilment and legal assurance.
Previously, Prime Minister Najib also explained that his side would like all TKI to use proper channel to work in Malaysia, in order to have legal status on his/her existence in Malaysia in order to get the protection and legal support if he/she is being exploited.
Malaysia will seek justice to those who exploits the TKI as well as Malaysian who harassment TKI who work legally in Malaysia, said Prime Minister Najib
In the news today, 16 November 2009, Minister Muhaimin Iskandar claimed that both countries has been agreed to set up Special Task Force to take care all troubled TKI in Malaysia and Indonesia will arrange the action plan of the task force to take care those TKI. While preparing the task force, Indonesia will rationalize other matters related to placement so that only those who is ready, can work in Malaysia.
Muhaimin believe that Memorandum of Understanding between Malaysia-Indonesia can be settled on 21 November 2009, and moratorium can be revoke as soon as possible