KL to crack down on illegal immigrants

KL to crack down on illegal immigrants

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will not further extend an amnesty for
hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants from tsunami-hit
Indonesia and other countries, and will begin a crackdown on Feb.
1, a report said Saturday.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted by The Star as
saying the government had given foreigners enough time to respond
after extending the amnesty period following the December 26
disaster that killed nearly 220,000 people.

"We are not closing the door on foreigners. They can come back
here as legal workers," he said.

Police and various enforcement agencies would start operations
to weed out illegal immigrants from next month, he added.

Some 320,000 illegal workers, mostly Indonesians, had so far
taken up the offer to return home without penalty since the
amnesty began Oct. 29, the daily said. -- AFP