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.