Indonesian illegals in Malaysia cause fear

Indonesian illegals in Malaysia cause fear

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Thousands of Indonesians, many working as construction workers, have set up illegal settlements near Malaysia's new federal capital, a report said Saturday.

The New Straits Times newspaper said the presence of about 6,000 Acehnese, Madurese and Javanese on private and government land was causing safety and health fears to local residents.

There are 1,000 Malaysians in the Limau Manis village near the new federal administrative capital of Putrajaya, south of Kuala Lumpur.

The newspaper said authorities last year raided and demolished the illegals' make-shift shelters made from wood and canvass but it had proved futile.

Village head Mat Naim Awi, 48, said their concerns over the illegals had been raised with the security forces and local authorities.

"The authorities have on many occasions visited the colony on fact-finding missions and have even demolished the illegal houses. The problem, however, persists as the Indonesians keep coming back.

"They will arrive all of a sudden late at night and can erect a house within hours."

The newspaper said the problem began last year when landowners decided to rent their land to Indonesians working at projects in Putrajaya.

Ariffin Shamsuddin, village welfare and security committee secretary, said the illegal settlement was also a hotbed for crime, and clashes between the Acehnese and Madurese had occurred.

"We are not so worried about the legal workers who are here to earn a living. It is the illegal immigrants whom we know nothing about that is causing us concern," he said.

Ariffin said petty thefts and stealing of motorcycles had also occurred in the village recently.

In the most recent violent incident last week, hundreds of Acehnese and Madurese clashed over a misunderstanding involving a cellular telephone.

Police seized sharp weapons and molotov cocktails from the rival gangs and arrested 107 Madurese and 23 Acehnese for not possessing valid travel documents.

Police said they were keeping the area under close surveillance following the bloody clash.

Malaysia's west coast is less than 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the Indonesian island of Sumatra in some places. Many Indonesians enter Malaysia illegally to escape the economic hardship at home.