First-Time Illegal Immigrants May Be Whipped

December 10, 2001 9:43 am EST

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia is stepping up a crackdown on illegal immigrants by planning to whip foreigners entering the country without valid documents, even for a first offence, newspapers reported on Sunday.

Only second-time offenders are currently liable to be whipped.

The New Straits Times quoted Immigration Department Director-General Mohd Jamal Kamdi as saying changes to the Immigration Act would go to parliament next March.

"The amendments are more or less finalized," Jamal was quoted as saying.

Malaysia, a country of 23 million people, is a favored destination for illegal immigrants from more populous, poorer Asian countries such as Indonesia and Bangladesh.

Authorities have stepped up their campaign against illegal immigration, sending back 2,500 Indonesian workers last month in the country's largest ever deportation exercise.

The government has said it aims to deport up to 300,000 overseas workers to free up jobs for locals affected by an economic slowdown.

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2001