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