Malaysia to Open 22 Learning Centers for Indonesian Migrants in Sabah

Dessy Sagita

The Malaysian state of Sabah will open 22 learning centers for the children of Indonesian migrant workers, an Indonesia-Malaysia joint commission announced on Wednesday.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa and Malaysian Foreign Minister Sri Anifah H. Aman hashed out the agreement during a meeting of the Indonesia-Malaysia Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation in Yogyakarta.

“Twenty-two learning centers for the children of Indonesian migrant workers have been approved so that the opportunity for them to enjoy education opens wider,” Marty said in a press release announcing the agreement.

The neighboring countries will also work to better protect their citizens abroad, a hot-button issue in Indonesia where migrant workers in Malaysia often run afoul of local laws.

Next year’s meeting will be held in Malaysia, Marty said.