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| Southeast Asia |
| KL to deport 1m illegal workers |
| 2004-07-25 |
| Malaysia is pushing for a campaign before the end of the year to detain and deport more than a million illegal workers, mostly from neighbouring Indonesia. 'Whether we are able to deport all or deport part (of them), we do not know yet but there is definitely a plan to go hard on these illegal immigrants because it is causing a problem.' -- Home Minister Azmi Khalid said the high number of foreign workers in the country was causing security problems and placing a burden on public services meant for Malaysian citizens. A comprehensive plan has been drafted and would be tabled at a special meeting under the Cabinet committee soon to be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, he said. Datuk Azmi said Malaysia has about 1.2 million foreign workers with valid work permits and an equal number of illegal workers. He also said foreign missions in Kuala Lumpur would be informed about the impending deportation. 'Whether we are able to deport all or deport part (of them), we do not know yet but there is definitely a plan to go hard on these illegal immigrants because it is causing a problem,' Datuk Azmi told reporters after presenting 403 immigration officers and staff with Excellent Service Awards for 2003. 'The (local) population is not comfortable with the situation.' Asked if the exercise could be launched by the end of this year, Datuk Azmi said: 'Yes, provided all supporting infrastructure and logistics are ready.' He said there was no timeframe for the deportation and that it would be 'a continuous process'. Nearly 300,000 people, mostly Indonesians and Filipinos, fled or were deported from Malaysia during a crackdown on illegal immigrants in 2002, which prompted claims of widespread mistreatment. Datuk Azmi said a 290,000-strong government volunteer force was being given special training to help immigration officers and police identify illegal workers. He said the government would ensure adequate holding centres and introduce certain laws for more effective checks on foreign workers. He did not elaborate. Malaysia, one of South-east Asia's wealthiest countries, employs hundreds of thousands of migrant workers from neighbouring nations, especially Indonesia, and relies heavily on them for menial tasks in construction and other labour-intensive industries. Increasing ethnic strife and crime involving foreign labourers in recent years prompted Malaysia to carry out mass deportations of illegal immigrants and institute more stringent entry requirements. - |
| Posted by:tipper |