BALI PROCESS TO CONSIDER REGIONAL COOPERATION FRAMEWORK TO COMBAT PROBLEM OF ILLEGALS

PUTRAJAYA, March 29 (Bernama) -- The Bali Process Ministerial Conference this Wednesday will consider a proposal for the setting up of a regional cooperation framework to tackle the problem of illegal immigrants in the Asia-Pacific region.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in a statement Monday that the proposal came from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

"At the conference, I will discuss and share views including on Malaysia's stand on regional issues like illegals and international crime," said Hishammuddin who will be attending it for the first since it started in 2002.

He said the conference would also be a platform to discuss in greater detail the discussion held recently between Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard.

Hishammuddin said senior officials from each of the participating countries would first meet (today) to look at the regional cooperation framework agenda before the convening of the ministerial-level meeting.

Among the countries involved are Australia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Hishammudin said the proposed framework would allow for the setting up of a mechanism in the source and transit countries and intended destinations to tackle the problem of entry of illegals.

"This issue needs serious attention as the Asia-Pacific region has almost 3.5 million refugees who make up 37 per cent of the world's refugees.

"The problem of illegals is a burden to social development, and the
education and employment sectors, as well as contributes to crime like drug trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering and human trafficking."

Hishammuddin said at the conference, he would take the opportunity to meet with Australia's Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen to discuss the direction and cooperation in tackling the problems.

He will also meet with the director-general of the International
Organisation for Migration (IOM), William Lacy Swing to discuss issues related to human trafficking, and will also call on his Indonesian counterpart, Gamawan Fauzi.