Malaysia mounts operation

Malaysia mounts operation

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Helicopters, airplanes and several naval boats thwarted about 400 illegal immigrants from entering the country over the past two weeks off the eastern coast of Borneo Island, a newspaper reported Saturday.

In the military operation around Sipadan Island, from where Muslim Filipino rebels captured 21 hostages in April, the navy intercepted 147 boats carrying 181 Filipinos, 197 Indonesians and others of undisclosed nationalities, The New Straits Times newspaper said.

Malaysia fears that Philippine military operations against Muslim rebels in some southern provinces there could trigger an exodus of refugees seeking shelter with people sharing the same language and religion in coastal areas of Sabah state.