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.