INDONESIA is still willing to send its workers to Malaysia, proving that the relationship between the two countries remains warm despite the recent spate of maid abuse cases, said Malaysia’s ambassador to Indonesia Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.

Zahrain said the recent incident involving a Malaysian woman, who was released on a good behaviour bond despite admitting to causing horrific injuries to her Indonesian maid, has not sparked any outcry in Indonesia.

“I don’t think this case would affect ties between both countries because we are two countries that share a lot of things. Our relationship has been good,” he said.

Last week, the Sessions Court ordered Rozita Mohd Ali to be placed on a good behaviour bond for five years in surety of RM20,000 for causing grievous hurt to her Indonesian maid, Sutanti Sutrinso. Critics and lawyers said the sentencing was too lenient.

In Malaysia, close to 50,000 people have signed an online petition demanding a harsher sentence for Rozita. The petition on change.org was set up on Saturday and has already more than tripled its original goal of 15,000 signatures.

Zahrain said the sentencing “was not a fair deal” and outraged Malaysians were reacting on humanitarian grounds.

“There is an outcry in Malaysia because the penalty does not (match) the crime,” Zahrain told The Malaysian Insight.

“I think what the Attorney-General’s Chambers did is the right thing to do, which is to appeal (the sentence).”

Yesterday, the Shah Alam High Court fixed Wednesday (tomorrow) to hear the prosecutor’s application for a review of the penalty.

The sentencing came weeks after another Indonesian domestic worker, Adelina Lisao, died from injuries allegedly caused by her employers in Penang. Adelina was allegedly forced to sleep outside her employer’s house with a dog.

Adelina suffered from severe injuries to the head and face and had wounds to the hands and legs when she was finally brought to hospital.

Indonesia had considered imposing a moratorium, or a temporary ban, on sending its workers over after the incident, but Zahrain said the government has since backtracked on its proposal.

“(According to) President Joko Widodo, if possible they don’t want their people to work abroad as house maids but it all depends on the economic situation in the country and demand and supply.

“That (moratorium) is what they want to do eventually but not at the moment. If they do now it’s going to cause havoc because some people cannot find jobs in Indonesia,” he said adding that the moratorium can be done only if Indonesia provides sufficient jobs for locals.

Zahrain said Indonesia will instead ink a memorandum of understanding with Putrajaya next month to send more of its workers to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur said it would not interfere in the case of Rozita, and leave it to the Malaysian legal process.

“The legal process is still ongoing and there is no final decision.

“The embassy will respect and monitor the process. The embassy will not interfere and is confident that the Malaysian legal process will prevail,” an embassy spokesman told The Malaysian Insight.

Rozita, 44, was charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt on Suyanti Sutrinso, 19, with a knife, mop, umbrella, iron rod and clothes hanger.

The offence was committed at a house in Jalan PJU 7/30, Mutiara Damansara, between 7am and noon on June 21, 2016. – March 20, 2018.