30,000 Indonesians deported by KL

30,000 Indonesians deported by KL

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Since the economic crisis deepened this year, Malaysia has deported 30,000 Indonesians found working without valid papers, the home ministry said.

The figure for deportations between January and April given by Deputy Home Minister Tajol Rosli Ghazali was the first disclosure regarding the number of Indonesians the government has shipped back in chartered trawlers and Indonesian naval vessels.

Indonesians who fled to Malaysia in fear of riots that led to the downfall of President Soeharto should also go back to their country, Tajol Rosli was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper.

Malaysia would continue to identify and deport illegal Indonesian workers and continue the ban on allowing more foreign workers, he said.

However, he maintained that Malaysia would continue to favor Indonesians and Thais as potential migrant workers in the future.

"We have promised the Indonesian and Thai governments that if we have any vacancies for foreign workers, we will give priority to their citizens," he said.

The Cabinet Committee on foreign workers would revise the policy on allowing immigrant workers if the economy improved, he said.

At the height of Malaysia's economic boom, 700 Indonesian workers entered the country illegally every day.

Since the crackdown on migrant workers, the number has dropped to around 50.

Malaysia says it wants to deport 200,000 illegal Indonesian immigrants by Aug. 15.

The Indonesian government itself has said that by the end of the year it will stop sending unskilled workers abroad in an attempt to avoid immigration problems and enhance the image of Indonesian workers.

Malaysia, along with Saudi Arabia, remains among the prime destinations for Indonesians seeking work abroad.