Non-Traditional Security Issue and International Conflict : A case study of Indonesian Migrant Labor in Malaysia

Abstract: The relation between Indonesia and Malaysia has seen several tensions since 1960s onwards. Since 2002 it self, there were several issues related to Indonesian migrant labor in Malaysia that has strained bilateral relations. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the extent to which the Indonesian migrant labor issue has affected relation with Malaysia as the receiving country. The findings of this study suggest that letting such Non- Traditional Security concern as migration get out of hand could spill over to international political conflict. While bilateral approach between sending and receiving countries can only offer limited impact on the issue, regional perspective seems more comprehensive toward solving the problem. Furthermore, the Indonesian government in particular has to take immediate initiative within regional perspective to control what many see as growing anti-Malaysia sentiment resulting from its migrant labor issue.