1,700 more Indonesians deported

1,700 more Indonesians deported

JAKARTA: Malaysia will deport another 1,700 illegal migrants
from Indonesia on Dec. 9, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Badawi said the move was taken to reduce the number of illegal
migrants detained in prisons and quarantines.

Over the past few weeks, Malaysia has deported 11,325 illegal
Indonesian workers in its latest crackdown on illegal migrants.

More than one million Indonesians reportedly work, legally or
otherwise, in the more affluent Malaysia, mainly in the
plantation and construction sectors.

Indonesia has readied two navy ships to fetch the migrants
from the port of Pasir Gudang in Johor Baru, Malaysia, to
transport them to Surabaya.

"This will be the ninth batch of deported Indonesians fetched
by naval ships," Badawi said. --Antara