[Nasional-e] Malaysia to deport illegal workers

[Ambon]

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20030206211558&ire
c=3

 Malaysia to deport illegal workers

JAKARTA: Malaysia reiterated on Thursday that it would soon deport illegal
Indonesian workers, despite pleas for a gradual deportation by Indonesia.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Dato' Mohammad Rastam Isa said here on
Thursday that it was the immigration law of Malaysia that all illegal
migrants should be deported.

"We are waiting for details from Malaysia, but the bottom line is, all
illegal migrants must be deported," the ambassador said after a meeting with
President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

He stressed that Malaysia had a very strict immigration law that also
penalized Malaysians employing illegal migrant workers.

Reports said earlier that there were some 50,000 Indonesians working
illegally in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea repeated
Indonesia's request for a gradual deportation.

"We understand that it is their law and that we should abide by it. But
please do it gradually, so we can handle the deportation," said Nuwa Wea.
(dja)