‘FROM FRIENDSHIP, MUSANG KING TO MOU ON DOMESTIC WORKERS’: HERMONO BIDS FAREWELL TO MALAYSIA

By Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- Indonesia’s outgoing ambassador to Malaysia says that advancing the protection and welfare of Indonesian migrant workers during his five-year tenure stands as the most meaningful achievement of his diplomatic career.

Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Datuk Hermono, who prepares to return to Jakarta at the end of this month, said Malaysia holds a “special place” in his four decades of diplomatic service, particularly because much of his work here centred on addressing fundamental human issues.

“Malaysia is the most memorable place I feel I did something that directly touched the basic human issues - that is the migrant issue,” he told reporters during a media gathering held to thank Malaysian journalists for their support throughout his posting, here on Thursday.

Appointed in 2020, Hermono is a career diplomat who previously served as Indonesia’s Deputy Ambassador to Malaysia from 2013 to 2015, marking this his second assignment in Kuala Lumpur.

Reflecting on his tenure, Hermono expressed particular pride in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the placement and protection of Indonesian domestic workers, describing it as a major milestone in bilateral relations.

“That is an achievement that I am proud of myself and also my team, because a lot of effort was spent until we could conclude the MoU,” he said.

He noted that the MoU has led to significant improvements in the treatment of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia.

“The MoU has served very well. The condition is much better... and if there are any cases, we can easily solve the problem,” he said.

Hermono highlighted that two issues remain central to Indonesia-Malaysia relations: migrant-worker protection and border matters.

“Those are the two issues that we need to work out. If we can solve these two issues, I think the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia will be much stronger,” he said.

Hermono stressed that the long-term strength of the relationship should not rest solely on personal rapport between national leaders.

“Our relations should not be based on personal relations of the leaders; leaders come and go at any time. The strongest, the most important foundation of our relation is the people of the two countries,” he said.

Hermono also took the opportunity to express deep appreciation to Malaysian journalists who supported him throughout his tenure.

“I would also like to thank you for the cooperation and support extended to me during my assignment in Malaysia. And I owe a lot to all the journalists,” he said.

He added that extensive media coverage helped shape public understanding of migrant-worker issues and contributed to raising his profile in Malaysia.

“You have made me very popular in Malaysia, like a celebrity... wherever I go, many people know me,” he said.

As he wraps up his mission in Kuala Lumpur, Hermono said he will miss the simple yet meaningful parts of life in Malaysia.

“Friendship, mi goreng mamak, and durian musang king,” he said.

-- BERNAMA