Malaysia nabbed illegal aliens

Malaysia nabbed illegal aliens

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia, a haven for illegal immigrants,
recorded nearly 50,000 cases of unlawful entry, overstaying and
crimes by foreigners last year, a news report said yesterday.

Indonesians and Bangladeshis formed the bulk of foreigners
detained for immigration offenses, followed by Myanmarese,
Filipinos and Thais, The New Straits Times said.

"Many of the offenders came here on tourist passes but failed
to return to their countries when their passports expired," the
paper quoted Aris Chonin, spokesman for the Malaysian immigration
department, as saying.

Aris said some tourists who overstayed were caught doing
business.

He said of the 49,707 aliens detained in 1994, about 57
percent were Indonesians, 22 percent Bangladeshis, six percent
Myanmarese, five percent Filipinos, two percent Thais and eight
percent other nationals.