Malaysia set to net 400,000 Indonesian illegal immigrants<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Following its fruitless persuasive approach, Malaysia will launch
\non Tuesday a major crackdown on around one million illegal
\nimmigrants -- mostly Indonesians -- who risk jail, fines, caning
\nand deportation.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Home Minister Azmi Khalid said in Kuala Lumpur on
\nMonday that raids would start Monday midnight, and some 650,000
\nimmigration officers, police and civilian volunteers are ready to
\nnab all illegal immigrants in the country.<\/p>\n
\"We will track down illegal workers, arrest them and send them
\nhome,\" said Ishak Mohamed, the immigration official leading the
\ncrackdown, as quoted by Reuters.<\/p>\n
The 2002 immigration law imposes penalties including
\nimprisonment, fines and canings against illegal immigrants, as
\nwell as against Malaysians who employ and harbor illegal
\nimmigrants.<\/p>\n
Ishak said about 400,000 illegal immigrants, most of them
\nIndonesians, had left since the government threatened late last
\nyear to deport them unless they departed under the amnesty, but
\nbetween 300,000 and 400,000 are estimated to remain.<\/p>\n
Although the Malaysian government in November 2004 offered an
\namnesty that was extended twice in December 2004 and January
\n2005, as well as launching an operation to persuade illegals to
\nleave, but most ignored it. Indonesian officials said unpaid
\nsalaries was the main reason illegal workers were reluctant to
\nleave Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Malaysia suffers a chronic labor shortage and relies heavily
\non cheap workers from Indonesia, just a ferry-boat ride away, to
\ntake up unskilled or semi-skilled work at construction sites,
\nfactories, plantations and restaurants.<\/p>\n
Employers fear the drive against migrant workers will worsen
\nthe labor shortage, so Malaysia has adopted a \"revolving-door\"
\nimmigration policy to allow the quick return of illegal workers
\nwho leave under the amnesty -- as long as they come back using
\nproper channels.<\/p>\n
Illegal immigrants are believed to have contributed to
\nincreasing crime rates in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Chairuddin Harahap, a labor observer in Kuala Lumpur, said
\nalmost all construction projects and plantations in the city and
\noutskirts have been deserted by workers as many illegal workers
\nhave fled into hiding to avoid arrest by Malaysian authorities.<\/p>\n
\"Many construction projects in the city and in private
\nplantations heading to Port Klang have been deserted by foreign
\nworkers. They are believed to have gone into hiding in
\nanticipation of a major raid,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said most illegal immigrants have been reluctant to come
\nback home because of the high levies they were required to pay if
\nthey wanted to return to Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"They prefer taking the risk of being jailed, fined and caned
\nto paying Rp 2.9 million to the Indonesian government and Rp 2.8
\nmillion to the Malaysian government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Director-General of Labor Export I Gusti Made Arka,
\nwho is accompanying Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi
\nIdris on his visit to Kuala Lumpur, said the government's efforts
\nto prevent raids had been exhausted.<\/p>\n
\"On the last day (Monday), only around 5,000 went home, with
\nanother 350,000 staying put,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Fahmi is in Kuala Lumpur to ensure the crackdown is conducted
\n\"humanely\".<\/p>\n
\"We will also want to see that Malaysian authorities impose
\nsanctions against Malaysian employers who employ illegal
\nworkers,\" Arka said.<\/p>\n
Bahri Jumairah, 36, a construction worker who left Kuala
\nLumpur on Monday for Indonesia, said he expected to take
\nadvantage of the policy and return within three months.<\/p>\n
\"I will have to borrow the money to pay for my journey back,\"
\nBahri told Reuters as he waited for a bus to the ferry that will
\ntake him home. \"I don't know which company I will work for. I
\nwill have to find another job.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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