Indonesia to step up security for Malaysian mission office after dispute

Indonesia will step up security at the Malaysian embassy office and for its diplomatic agents following rampant protests over the border incident of the two countries, spokesman of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry Teuku Faizasyah said in Jakarta Wednesday.

The arrest of 3 Indonesian maritime officers by the Malaysian Marine Operation Force on Aug. 14, after the officers detained 7 Malaysian fishermen for illegally fishing in Indonesian waters, has sparked anger in Indonesia and led to massive protests.

The spokesman said that the protests may turn to anarchy and the government need to ensure that the Malaysian mission office here and its diplomatic agents can perform their work well. "Security will be stepped up to ensure that there will be no disturbance that can hamper them from carrying out their works," he told Xinhua over phone.

Faizasyah said that the foreign ministry has coordinated with police and ane of the steps to be taken may be in the form of patrol.

Three days after the arrests both sides released their detainees. After the release, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa sent diplomatic note to the government of Malaysia to protest the breach of territory perpetrated by Malaysians officials during the arrest of Indonesian officials.

Indonesian lawmakers slammed the incident and questioned whether the release of the three Indonesian officials is part of a swap.

Although Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to settle the dispute in Malaysia next month, protests continue at the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta.

During the protest on Tuesday activists threw feces to the embassy compound.

The foreign ministry spokesman called the protesters to deliver message properly. "The people should express their feeling of unsatisfaction proportionally. Conveying expression is allowed by our law, but it must be done properly. The protesters have done it inproperly," Faizasyah told reporters at the state palace.

Indonesia and Malaysia have often involved in a dispute over their border.

Source: Xinhua