Malaysia considering action against British newspapers
Malaysia considering action against British newspapers
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's prime minister said yesterday that the government is considering action against two British newspapers that accused police of drugging Indonesian migrants to deport them.
"There is no truth in the allegation," Mahathir Mohamad was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.
He added that the reports were aimed at tarnishing Malaysia's image.
Earlier this week, the London-based Observer and The Independent dailies reported that Malaysian police spiked the refugees' food, and then tied them up for deportation once they the drugs took effect.
"We'll see what action we can take one way or another," Mahathir was quoted by as telling reporters. He did not elaborate.
Mahathir also said Malaysia's treatment of illegal migrants was more lenient than some of its neighbors.
"Singapore caned them first, but that does not attract comments," Mahathir said after attending a government function.
"We don't even cane ... I think we should cane ... because when we do things nicely we get accused of all sorts of things," he said.
Mahathir also confirmed plans to deport 50,000 Indonesian people that the government says are illegal migrants. The government has said it intends to deport 200,000 Indonesians by Aug. 15.
An Indonesian warship left for the Malaysian port of Johor Baru on Friday to fetch 1,759 illegal workers. This was the fifth batch of Indonesian illegal workers taken home by the Indonesian Navy, Indonesia's official news agency Antara said quoting officials.
For decades, undocumented workers were welcomed in Malaysia, but the country has launched a massive drive against illegal immigrants since the economic slowdown set in last year.
There are no official figures of the number of people deported so far, but it is estimated at several thousands.
According to official reports, eight Indonesians and one police officer were killed at a detention camp when a group of refugees, resisting deportation, fatally stabbed the officer.