Unrest in RI, RP prompts Malaysia to increase patrol
Unrest in RI, RP prompts Malaysia to increase patrol
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Patrols have been increased along Malaysia's borders with Indonesia and the Philippines to catch refugees who may try to flee political upheaval in those countries, a newspaper reported on Thursday.
Malaysian deputy Defense Minister Mohamad Shafie Apdal said military forces along the coast and in border areas had been placed on alert in response to unrest in the two neighboring countries, The Star newspaper said.
"We are monitoring the situation closely and taking appropriate action to counter the possible influx of people running away from political troubles at home," the Star quoted Shafie as saying.
Mainland Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra are separated by the narrow Malacca Strait, while the countries share a land border on Borneo island. The southern Philippines and the Malaysian province of Sabah share a border in the Sulu and Celebes Seas.
Mass protests have turned to brawls in recent days in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta as President Abdurrahman Wahid tries to stave off possible impeachment over two corruption scandals.
Malaysia's No. 2 leader expressed concern on Thursday at the unrest, though he did not mention the stepped-up border patrols.
"We are worried with what is happening in Indonesia, and if these developments lead to a terrible situation for that country's people, this will also have an impact on us," Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.
The Philippines is also in turmoil following mass protests which led to scandal-tainted President Joseph Estrada's replacement by a military-backed government.
Shafie was cited by the Star as saying that political turmoil in Indonesia in 1998 had not resulted in an increase of illegal refugees, but that Malaysia must be vigilant in protecting its borders.
Illegal immigration to Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia's wealthiest countries, has surged since the 1997-98 Asian economic crisis, which hurt Malaysia but affected its poorer neighbors even more.
Illegal immigrants from Indonesia regularly enter Malaysia seeking work on palm oil plantations.
Muslim rebels from the southern Philippines sneaked into Malaysian waters twice last year and abducted resort island workers and foreign tourists who were held hostage for months before being released for ransom payments.
More than 60,000 illegal workers were deported from Malaysia in 1999 and another 97,251 were sent back last year. The Immigration Department expects deportation figures to surpass 100,000 this year.