In brushing off criticism by ambassador Hermono that the immigration department had not been providing full cooperation in talks to finalise a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the intake of domestic maids from the republic, Hamzah said the ambassador should check with his (Indonesian) minister if he did not know what was going on.
Stating he had discussed the issue with his counterpart during a working visit to Jakarta last month, Hamzah added that he did not have to brief Hermono on the matter.
He said this when asked to comment on Hermono expressing dissatisfaction over the immigration department’s limited involvement in discussions about the MoU and that its representatives had only attended two meetings.
Hermono had also told Malaysiakini that the immigration department was represented by non-decision making officials at these meetings.
Hamzah said: “I want to inform (him) that the ones discussing this are his (home) minister and I.
“If he doesn’t know, he should ask his minister.”
Hamzah was speaking to the press at the home ministry here after chairing a meeting with officials from Sabah regarding the management of foreign nationals in the state. Also present was immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud.
Both Khairul and Hamzah were asked by FMT to comment on Hermono’s claims, but only Hamzah replied.
The home minister also touched on a Bangladeshi media report that a former Bangladeshi high commissioner to Malaysia, Mohamed Khairuzzaman, was arrested yesterday morning at his residence in Ampang.
However, Hamzah did not provide the reason for Mohamed’s arrest. Mohamed was Bangladesh’s envoy to Malaysia from 2007 to 2009 and is currently a refugee registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
“The arrest is in accordance with the law. If there is an offence, we will make an arrest. If there is a request (to make an arrest) from a country of origin, if there is merit, we will do it,” he said.
Asked whether Mohamed would be deported, Hamzah simply replied: “I am not in court today.”