Your comments on the worsening relations between Indonesia and Malaysia due to a number of issues, including the Ambalat dispute and the alleged torture of an Indonesian maid by her Malaysian employer.
The torture of Indonesian maid Siti Hajar is just one of the tragedies experienced by Indonesia's working abroad.
It shows that they do not receive adequate protection. Meanwhile, many of them cannot protect themselves because of their poor education, low level of skill and limited access to and knowledge of information about regulations and laws.
Yogi Suwasono
Jakarta
It seems unlikely the Malaysian government will provide legal protection for domestic workers by changing their labor law. Consequently, the rights of domestic workers are neglected and their employers treat them inhumanly.
In an effort to prevent this, the Indonesian Government needs to draft a bill on the protection of house maids.
While waiting for the bill to be endorsed by the parliament, the government needs to temporarily stop sending house maids to Malaysia.
Abdul Rahim
Tangerang, Banten
Alleged torture of Manohara by a royal family and the torture of Siti Hajar by her employer are pure household matters, unlike the Ambalat dispute, which is a real threat to Indonesia's sovereignty.
The household matters, partly caused by the incompetence of the victims themselves to perform their expected duties as a housewife and as a housemaid respectively, are criminal cases, which should be processed and judged by the Malaysian criminal courts.
On the other hand, the Ambalat dispute is of real national interest and needs to be handled by a powerful and decisive administration backed by our whole national potential.
Soebagjo Soetadji
Jakarta
The Ambalat dispute, as well as the abuse and torture of Indonesian workers in Malaysia, are all long-standing issues that are now being highlighted again and milked to the hilt for their political worth.
Let's not fall into this trap, but continue to try to resolve these matters through diplomatic channels and in legitimate ways. Charging forward Sukarno-style with his "Ganyang Malaysia" policy won't work any more in these times and would most probably only backfire.
V.T. Hopkins
Jakarta
Indonesians must prove to the world that we are a very proud people, with dignity and self-respect.
If you want to end the torture of maids, please stop sending our brothers and sisters to Malaysia and Singapore for jobs; but as long as the Indonesian government enjoys the hard currency from remittances sent home by exploited Indonesian workers abroad, this problem will never end.
Indonesia should never blame others for the problems it creates.
Todd Semesta
Jakarta
Malaysia has more than 2 million Indonesians here working, and mostly they are treated well. Some even choose to stay here forever (like my grandfather).
Of course there are cases of bad treatment - and we have to correct that. But for many others, Malaysia has been good to them. How about violent crimes committed by Indonesians here - my neighbor was robbed by machete-yielding Indonesians and the whole family tied up inside the house.
We did not go out and say that all Indonesians are bad people.Yet few cases emerge about bad treatment and Indonesians become quick to declare war on Malaysia and call us "Malingsia".
Mizani
Kuala Lumpur
It is not the first nor the last time. The torture of Indonesian workers happens all over the world, even in Indonesia. But the culture incident, Ligitan and Sipadan and last but not least the Ambalat dispute have worsened ties between the two countries.
E. Nurdin
Jakarta
