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.