Indonesians 'too poor' to flee<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Indonesians have become too poor to afford
\nthe high boat fares to be smuggled into Malaysia as illegal
\nworkers, with southern Johor state recording zero landings of
\nIndonesian illegals last month, a Malaysian newspaper reported.<\/p>\n
Instead, more Indonesian illegals now in Malaysia are trying
\nto sneak back home with their savings to avoid arrest by
\nMalaysian authorities, the New Straits Times reported.<\/p>\n
A senior Johor police official said political and economic
\nproblems in Indonesia, as well as a crackdown on hiring of
\nillegal foreign workers in Malaysia, were reasons for the drop in
\narrivals.<\/p>\n
Ajis Salimin said Indonesian illegals used to borrow money,
\npawn their jewelry or sell property to pay boatmen to smuggle
\nthem across the Straits of Malacca into Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"Since times are hard, many are unable to find the money to
\npay the (boatmen),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ajis said Johor authorities have captured 270 Indonesians this
\nmonth trying to leave Malaysia, most of whom were found taking
\nhome their savings after working there illegally.<\/p>\n
Malaysia tightened security along its borders with Indonesia
\nafter recording an influx early this year of Indonesians fleeing
\npolitical unrest and economic troubles at home.<\/p>\n
About 4,000 Indonesians were detained in Johor in the first
\nquarter of 1998 alone, compared with 5,500 for the whole of last
\nyear.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesians-too-poor-to-flee-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}