RI Embassy in Kuala Lumpur Still Operating Despite Ambassadors Absence

Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is still operating as usual despite the absence of an ambassador appointed there, said the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Michael Tene here on Friday. Since former Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Da'i Bachtiar's term ended in June 2011, the new ambassador has not been appointed so far. The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is currently headed by Charge D'affaires officer Mulya Wirana. "Though we have not yet appointed an ambassador to Kuala Lumpur, operations at the embassy are still running as usual. Cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia in various sectors such as politics, economy and culture is proceeding smoothly. We are now in the process of selecting a new ambassador for our embassy in Kuala Lumpur," Michael announced. He explained that from the period of 2011 until the first quarter of 2012, the embassy in Kuala Lumpur handled 100 criminal cases involving Indonesian workers. Some 23 workers who were facing execution charges have been saved from the death penalty so far, he added.(*)