KL wants neighbors to boost border security<\/p>\n
Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Malaysia will ask Indonesian and Philippine authorities to
\nintensify border security to prevent the return of thousands of
\nillegal immigrants who were expelled from Malaysia in a recent
\ncrackdown, news reports said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"We will request Indonesia and the Philippines to beef up
\nsecurity,\" Deputy Defense Minister Mohamed Shafie Apdal was
\nquoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.<\/p>\n
Mohamed Shafie said officials were particularly concerned
\nabout security near Sabah, a Malaysian state on Borneo island
\nthat shares borders with Indonesia's Kalimantan province and the
\nsouthern Philippines, where most of the migrants were from.<\/p>\n
Malaysia, one of the wealthiest countries in Asia, has become
\na magnet for migrant workers from poorer and less stable
\ncountries in the region.<\/p>\n
The crackdown triggered diplomatic tensions earlier this
\nmonth. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lodged
\nprotests over claims that Filipino immigrants awaiting
\ndeportation in Malaysia were mistreated. The Malaysian government
\nis investigating allegations by a 13-year-old girl from the
\nPhilippines that Malaysian police in Sabah raped her.<\/p>\n
Mohamed Shafie expressed hope that increased bilateral
\nsecurity cooperation would also help the Philippines end the
\nthreat of Abu Sayyaf rebel guerrillas, who authorities fear might
\ntry to flee to Sabah to escape a military operation in the
\nsouthern Philippines.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kl-wants-neighbors-to-boost-border-security-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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