| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| MŽsia boosts coastal security |
| 2009-06-08 |
| [Straits Times] MALAYSIA is deploying helicopters, boats and an aircraft along its coast to catch a rising number of suspected illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan, some of whom may have drowned during their perilous boat journeys. But the saga of the South Asian migrants comes with a twist - they are not trying to enter Malaysia illegally. Instead they are leaving Malaysia illegally on small overcrowded boats to sneak into Indonesia, most likely en route to Australia where they hope to eventually get asylum, officials said in interviews this week. Many Indonesians, who work here without permits or overstay their visas, also use the boats to exit illegally. Since March, four boats with 114 Indonesians, 58 Afghans, 37 Pakistanis and three Iraqis have been caught trying to cross from Malaysia toward Indonesia, according to statistics from the marine police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. Maritime officials say it is hard to estimate how many have successfully completed the dangerous passage. 'This is a new trend to us in Malaysia,' Home Ministry Secretary-General Mahmood Adam told AP. The prospective migrants are believed to pay human traffickers in their home countries, who arrange for them to come to Malaysia on valid tourist visas. Once here, they see the sights in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas before setting sail on an uncertain journey. Mr Mahmood said most of these people are middle-class with means to fund their journey. Many want to escape the war in Afghanistan and in Pakistan's border region, and all are looking for a better life. 'They have money. They travel all over the world. So how to refuse their visa application? It's very difficult,' Mr Mahmood said. |
| Posted by:Fred |