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.