Malaysia upset by surge in illegal immigrants<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia is becoming alarmed at an influx
\nof Indonesians landing here, with 3,000 illegal immigrants
\narrested in a two-week period this month compared with less than
\n9,000 for the whole of last year.<\/p>\n
Newspapers reported yesterday that Malaysian authorities are
\nnow appealing to the public to make citizen's arrests of illegal
\nimmigrants, with one newspaper publishing a \"how to\" guide under
\nthe country's criminal code.<\/p>\n
\"We are very concerned because from Feb. 11 to Tuesday, we
\nrecorded 254 landings and arrested 3,036 illegals compared with
\n659 landings and 8,833 arrests for the whole of 1997,\" Internal
\nSecurity and Public Order Deputy Director Yusof Mohamad Said was
\nquoted as saying in The Star newspaper.<\/p>\n
Yusof told the New Straits Times that the figure was
\n\"alarming\" with police making their biggest arrest on Tuesday
\nwhen 537 illegal immigrants were detained in 43 landings on the
\nwest coast of the Malaysian peninsula.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's west coast is less than 25 kilometers (16 miles)
\nfrom the Indonesian island of Sumatra in some places.<\/p>\n
\"The increase in their landings this month could probably be
\ndue to unrest and the economic slowdown in a neighboring
\ncountry,\" Yusof was quoted as saying, without naming Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Reports said that 70 percent of the illegal immigrants caught
\nwere from Indonesia, while the rest were from Bangladesh,
\nMyanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka as well as Cambodia, and China.<\/p>\n
Yusof called for greater public cooperation to check the
\ninflux of illegals as police, military and immigration
\nauthorities lacked the manpower.<\/p>\n
\"The situation has become serious as a number of illegal
\nimmigrants may escape arrest,\" the deputy internal security and
\npublic order chief said. \"We cannot patrol the entire coastal
\narea as we don't have many men.\"<\/p>\n
\"We want villagers along the west coast of peninsular Malaysia
\nto be more vigilant and alert the authorities of any landing or
\nsighting of illegal immigrants so that swift action can be
\ntaken.\"<\/p>\n
Yusof said police chiefs had been instructed to \"liaise with
\nvillage heads in their respective areas to help make citizen's
\narrests.<\/p>\n
\"Villagers are, however, advised not to use force and to
\ncontact us immediately,\" he reportedly said.<\/p>\n
The Sun newspaper meanwhile published a guide for readers to
\nhelp stem the tide of illegals along with details of how to make
\ncitizen's arrests under the country's criminal procedure code.<\/p>\n
If a person forcibly resists or tries to evade arrest, \"the
\nperson arresting may use all means necessary to effect arrest,\"
\nthe newspaper said.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has a population of 21 million people excluding
\nalmost two million foreign workers of whom about half are
\nbelieved to be illegal immigrants.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-upset-by-surge-in-illegal-immigrants-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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