Malaysia boosts border patrols

Malaysia boosts border patrols

MALAYSIA: Malaysian authorities said on Wednesday that they had
increased patrols along the border with Indonesia's Sumatra
island to intercept people who try to may flee fighting in Aceh
province.

"We are concerned that if the situation in Aceh becomes
chaotic, some of the Acehnese may resort to entering our country
illegally," Malaysia's national police chief Norian Mai was
quoted as saying by the Bernama national news agency.

Indonesian forces on Monday launched a major offensive against
pro-independence rebels in Aceh, which covers the northern tip of
Sumatra across the narrow Malacca Straits from Malaysia.

Norian said Malaysian marine police had stepped up patrols to
guard against an influx of illegal arrivals from Aceh. He said so
far no one had been intercepted. --AP