11KL denies recruiting Indonesian guards

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 02/20/2008 11:30 AM  |  National

Malaysia has again refuted media reports it recruited Indonesians for its military reserve component Askar Wataniah to help guard Indonesia-Malaysia borders on Borneo island.

"Malaysia has never recruited any foreigners to be members of Askar Wataniah. We would not do that," Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Dato' Zainal Abidin Zain told a news conference here Tuesday.

"How could we possibly deploy foreigners to maintain our own sovereignty? It's illogical," he said.

He said only Malaysians meeting certain requirements were allowed to join the force.

However, the ambassador said Malaysia allowed Malaysians of Indonesian descent, who have been living in Malaysia for many years and have obtained Malaysian citizenship, to serve on the force.

Reports of Indonesian citizens becoming members of Askar Wataniah were raised by several Indonesian lawmakers with the House of Representatives' Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs at a recent hearing with Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo.

They said the information came from former commanders of the Tanjungpura military command guarding the border areas in Kalimantan.

The issue was immediately dismissed by Tanjungpura military commander Maj. Gen. Tono Suratman, Indonesian Military chief Gen. Djoko Santoso, State Intelligence Agency head Syamsir Siregar and also the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian authorities also denied the reports when the Indonesian Army chief visited Kuala Lumpur last week.

Col. Ramli, defense attach

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