GOVT ACTING TO ENABLE ILLEGAL RI WORKERS ABROAD TO VOTE

Jakarta, Sept 19 (ANTARA) - The government has made approaches to a number of countries where illegal Indonesian migrant workers are employed to enable them to exercise their voting right in the 2009 general elections, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
"The government has made various approaches to a number of countries where the illegal Indonesian migrant workers are employed as part of efforts to seek a breakthrough and leeway," the spokesman, Teuku Faizasyah, said here on Friday.
Although they were employed illegally abroad, they were Indonesian citizens who had the right to vote in the 2009 polls, he said.
"One of the ways we are taking into account to solve the problem is providing cars which will stop in certain places where many Indonesian workers are employed," he said.
As such, they did not need to be exposed openly, he said.
"Of course, the breakthrough needs further considerations," he said.
Most illegal Indonesian migrant workers are employed in neighboring Malaysia. They work in the construction, plantation and service sectors.
Indonesia will hold general elections next year to elect members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and president and vice president.