Malaysia tightens checks on S'poreans

Malaysia tightens checks on S'poreans

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysia's Immigration Department has ordered tighter checks on Singaporeans entering the country too frequently in an attempt to weed out suspected illegal workers, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The directive comes after statistics showed Singaporeans formed the biggest number of professionals found working illegally in the country.

Of the 21,926 foreign professionals detected, 11,926 were Singaporeans, most of whom worked as consultants for shipyards and factories, the New Straits Times daily reported.

It said its bureau in southern Johor state has received telephone calls from irritated Singaporeans who claim they were "harassed" by immigration officials at the border checkpoint.

Johor is connected to the island republic through a short causeway.