Indonesians 'too poor' to flee

Indonesians 'too poor' to flee

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Indonesians have become too poor to afford the high boat fares to be smuggled into Malaysia as illegal workers, with southern Johor state recording zero landings of Indonesian illegals last month, a Malaysian newspaper reported.

Instead, more Indonesian illegals now in Malaysia are trying to sneak back home with their savings to avoid arrest by Malaysian authorities, the New Straits Times reported.

A senior Johor police official said political and economic problems in Indonesia, as well as a crackdown on hiring of illegal foreign workers in Malaysia, were reasons for the drop in arrivals.

Ajis Salimin said Indonesian illegals used to borrow money, pawn their jewelry or sell property to pay boatmen to smuggle them across the Straits of Malacca into Malaysia.

"Since times are hard, many are unable to find the money to pay the (boatmen)," he said.

Ajis said Johor authorities have captured 270 Indonesians this month trying to leave Malaysia, most of whom were found taking home their savings after working there illegally.

Malaysia tightened security along its borders with Indonesia after recording an influx early this year of Indonesians fleeing political unrest and economic troubles at home.

About 4,000 Indonesians were detained in Johor in the first quarter of 1998 alone, compared with 5,500 for the whole of last year.