Illegal foreigners fleeing Malaysia

Sat, 17 Oct 1998 | Source: DPA

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Illegal foreign workers have been leaving Malaysia in droves before a two-month amnesty period runs out at the end of the month, reports said on Friday.

So far, 46,345 illegals have left for home ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline. Almost 40,000 were Indonesians, with the rest mainly from Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Myanmar, Nepal and China.

Immigration officials expect 100,000 illegal foreign workers to take up the amnesty offer. Authorities are planning a nationwide crackdown to arrest those who stay on.

Another 40,000 Indonesians are set to sail home next week after getting travel documents from the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, The New Straits Times daily said.

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