Jakarta – Indonesia's national assembly chairman Amien Rais yesterday slammed Malaysia over what he called the "inhumane" caning of several illegal Indonesian migrant workers.

"Frankly, I am feeling disappointed, angry and cannot accept that Malaysia, a modern country which is still of the same root as us, has a way to punish Indonesian illegal migrant workers that is really inhumane," he said, according to Antara news agency.

He said caning was an ancient punishment and the Malaysian government's move to lash Indonesian workers was an "insult" to all Indonesia.

"I urge the Indonesian government, in a dignified way, to demand Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammad to stop playing. Mahathir is playing with fire," he said. "We have the right to be angry at Malaysia because we have been so insulted," he said.