NU urges govt to file diplomatic protest to Malaysia

Jakarta, NU Online
The Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) has urged the government to immediately file diplomatic protest Malaysia related to the recruitment of Indonesian living in border areas as its Wataniyah Paramilitary Legion.

"The diplomatic protest is reasonable for what is conducted by Malaysia has violated international law," Vice Secretary General of the PBNU Syaiful Bahri Anshori told reporters here on Thursday (14/2).<>

As for him, the government should have taken firm measures for considering that Malaysia had formerly angered Indonesia dealing with its unfriendly attitudes.

He was of view the Malaysia's unacceptable attitude could be regarded as such an insult. The problem might be settled if the two countries have formerly come to a single voice.

Anshori was extremely worried over the possibility of recruited nationals to take a stand against their own country, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
 
Admitted or not, he said, a series of vulnerabilities between Indonesia and Malaysia could be considered as the evidence of Indonesia's weaknesses in securing the nation's sovereignty.

"So the regions in border areas remain unsecured, especially in outermost islands," he said.

He then sought such solutions instead of filing diplomatic protest in dealing with the case. For him possible strategic measures being able to be taken by the government was building military schools out of Java island.

As reported a number of House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I members at a hearing with Army Chief of Staff Lt Gen Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo last week,  voiced concern that the Malaysian Wataniyah Paramilitary Legion had recruited Indonesians to help secure Malaysia’s interest in  border areas.
   
Malaysian Wataniyah paramilitary troops in the border areas are estimated to be 40,000 strong. They have been deployed to secure Malaysia’s interests along the border lines which stretch over a distance of 2,001 km in Kalimantan.
   
While House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono recently urged the government to take concrete steps in response to reports that Malaysia’s military has recruited  Indonesian citizens. (rif/dar)