A better defense against aliens

Like most countries, Malaysia welcomes visitors as a matter of policy, not just home-grown hospitality, and, with a few exceptions, they are waved through passport control with a brisk smile. They spend vacation money, invest, do business, attend college, provide labour and skills. Freer immigration rules make economic sense and are a product of globalisation. So having to go back on them is a tough call.

That call may soon be made in the case of Africans, whose unruly numbers have affected local communities and enforcement authorities. Visa restrictions on African nationals were proposed last weekend to cut back on the estimated 4,000 of them who enter the country each month.

For nearly the same reason, Malaysia too needs extra vigilance. Immigration procedures and enforcement should be efficient, fair and firm. Nobody likes to be turned away at the door. It would be better to enforce the simple fact that Malaysia's openness is strictly contingent on good behaviour.

-- The New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur