Indonesia, Malaysia expand legal and citizen protection ties

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the close relationship between the leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia provides a strong foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

"Indonesia and Malaysia are two closely related countries with a long-standing friendship," Mahendra said on Tuesday.

During a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Monday (June 29), Mahendra conveyed warm greetings from President Prabowo Subianto and expressed appreciation for the prime minister's willingness to receive the Indonesian delegation despite his busy official schedule.

According to Mahendra, Indonesia and Malaysia are connected not only by geographical proximity but also by shared history, culture, and longstanding brotherly ties.

He said Indonesia remains committed to working closely with Malaysia in addressing common challenges, including the protection of citizens, cross-border legal issues, and institutional cooperation based on openness, mutual trust, and the spirit of brotherhood.

The meeting also covered a range of issues related to law, human rights, immigration, and corrections, with particular emphasis on protecting the citizens of both countries.

Among the key topics discussed was a draft agreement on the transfer of prisoners between Indonesia and Malaysia, which is expected to proceed to the signing stage in the near future.

The draft agreement has been jointly discussed by Malaysia's Ministry of Home Affairs and Indonesia's Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

Under the initial proposal, the Malaysian government requested that any pardon granted to repatriated Indonesian prisoners, including sentence remissions, amnesties, and abolitions, would require Malaysia's approval.

Mahendra said Indonesia rejected the proposal, maintaining that decisions regarding pardons and other forms of clemency for Indonesian citizens should fall entirely under the authority of the Indonesian government.

Conversely, he said the rehabilitation of repatriated Malaysian prisoners would be the responsibility of the Malaysian government, which would also retain full authority to grant pardons, amnesties, or abolitions.

As prisoner transfers fall under his ministry's responsibilities, Mahendra said the government has taken proactive steps to facilitate the process.

He noted that Indonesia has previously assisted in the repatriation of numerous foreign prisoners to their home countries. He added that the government now intends to pursue the return of Indonesian citizens serving prison sentences abroad.

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Translator: Agatha Olivia, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Primayanti

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