"The Indonesian government criticized the text, content and purpose contained in the advertisement flyer," the foreign minister said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said the Indonesian government strongly criticized the advertisement in Malaysia offering Indonesian maids on sales, saying the Indonesian government is now taking the necessary steps.

"The Indonesian government criticized the text, content and purpose contained in the advertisement flyer," the foreign minister said here on Monday.

Marty said his ministry has summoned the Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia over the issue. Besides, his side had also come to the Malaysian foreign ministry in Kuala Lumpur.

"I myself had talks with the Malaysian foreign minister this morning. In essence, the Indonesian government`s attitude of criticizing the ads also became the attitude of the Malaysian government," Marty said.

He said that criticism against the advertisement came from not only the Indonesian government but also from the Malaysian government as well.

"The Malaysian government criticized the advertisement as soon as the ads flyer was made public," the Indonesian foreign minister said.

He said that the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the sending of Indonesian workers (to Malaysia) and lifted officially the moratorium on such a dispatch at the end of 2011.

But now, he said, the number of Indonesian workers going to Malaysia under the lifting of the moratorium had so far only reached 64 persons.

Earlier, Anis Hidayah, the executive director of Migrant Care, disclosed that many advertisement flyers reading "Indonesian maids now on SALE!!!" were seen tacked to trees and in other public places in Kuala Lumpur.

A photo of the flyer, which listed a 40 percent discount on placement fees for Indonesian maids, was tweeted by Anis Hidayah on Sunday.

The flyer read: "Indonesian maids now on SALE!!! Fast & Easy Application!! Now your housework and cooking come easy. You can rest and relax, Deposit only RM 3,500! Price RM 7,500 nett." The normal placement rate in Malaysia totaled 12,000 ringgits ($3,931), Anis was quoted by the Jakarta Globe as saying.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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