KL boosts border patrols before RI polls

KL boosts border patrols before RI polls

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia will increase patrols along its
borders and coastlines to ensure illegal immigrants do not flood
the country during the run-up to Indonesia's general elections,
news reports said Monday.

"We hope there will be no untoward incident," Deputy Home
Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir was quoted as saying by the
New Straits Times daily.

"However, we are prepared for any eventuality. We pray the
people of Indonesia will have a peaceful campaign," Abdul Kadir
told reporters.

Last week, the Malaysian government sought Indonesia's help to
check the influx of immigrants, who were expected to slip into
Malaysia illegally to avoid the possibility of pre-election
violence.

Thousands of families, many of them ethnic Chinese, fled to
Malaysia last year during political violence in Indonesia. Many
also fled to neighboring Singapore, professing their intention to
return as soon as situation was back to normal.

Indonesian Ambassador HBL Mantiri in Singapore said on Sunday
hundreds of Chinese-Indonesians from Jakarta and several other
major cities in Java would be arriving in the island city-state
beginning Monday.

"Rumors about the possibility of an outbreak of unrest before
and during the campaigning period could have prompted them to
leave for Singapore, and Jakarta-Singapore air tickets were
already sold out," he said.

General elections are scheduled for June 7 and campaigning
will begin May 19.

The election is seen as a test of democratic reforms that
President B.J. Habibie launched after the tumultuous downfall
last year of his authoritarian predecessor, President Suharto.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Habibie were
scheduled to meet Thursday on the Indonesian island of Batam.

Reports last week also said many Indonesians are seeking peace
from the campaigns in Batam.