Malaysia, Indonesia agree in principle to integrate SMO, OCS - Immigration DG

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Indonesia has agreed in principle to integrate System Maid Online (SMO) and One Channel System (OCS), which were at the heart of disputes that led to an Indonesian freeze on sending its workforce to the country.

Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the decision was reached during a meeting with Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Hermono on Monday, which was joined by senior officials from the Human Resources Ministry.

"The embassy will take the necessary action after obtaining approval from Jakarta," he said as a guest on the Bicara Naratif programme entitled Immigration: Digital Transformation, the Basis of Excellence broadcasted on RTM1 last night.

He added that the ministry had also written officially to the Indonesian embassy to allow workers from the country for other sectors to be allowed into Malaysia while waiting for the agreement to become official.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said on Monday that both governments had begun discussions about the freeze on Indonesian foreign workers.

Hermono had announced Indonesia's decision to impose a temporary freeze on all workers entering Malaysia from July 13 last week following the Immigration Department's continued use of SMO in the application of domestic help by employers even though both countries had agreed to use one channel, the OCS, under a memorandum of understanding regarding Indonesian domestic workers signed last April.

-- BERNAMA