ID :
85377
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 09:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/85377
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MALAYSIA MULLS AUSTRALIA'S REQUEST ON BOAT PEOPLE
BY MOHD NASIR YUSOFF
JAKARTA, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will study the request made by the Australian government to tighten immigration controls and issuance of visas to prevent human trafficking and the problem of boat people, Prime Minister Najib Razak said Tuesday.
He said the request was conveyed by his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd,
during their bilateral meeting after attending the swearing-in ceremony of
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono here.
"The meeting was convened upon Rudd's request. He also expressed his
satisfaction with the good bilateral ties between our two countries," Najib said
at a press conference with the Malaysian media.
Specifically, Najib said, Rudd had raised several issues including
Australia's concern about the problem of boat people, who were making Malaysia
their transit point before making their way illegally into Australia.
A recent example, he said was concerning a group of Sri Lankan boat people
who entered Malaysia on their way to Australia, but ended detained by the
Indonesian authorities.
He said among the preventive measures that could be considered by Malaysia
were by increasing the number of immigration officers at certain countries, who
would scrutinise the visa applications to Malaysia, so that tourism and human
trafficking activities could be clearly ascertained.
The Prime Minister said it was learnt that the human trafficking activities
had become rampant because of the handsome profit, as the traffickers would
charge between US$15,000 and US$20,000 for each Sri Lankan who wanted to enter
Australia.
"This is also linked to Sri Lanka's internal stability. If the Sri Lankan
government can assure that the Tamils there can integrate in the country's
development, the possibility of them becoming boat people will be reduced," he
said.
Najib said they also discussed about Australia's offer to help Malaysia in
enhancing vocational education for school leavers.
"Prime Minister Rudd will send his officials to Kuala Lumpur to discuss
further about the offer soon," he said, adding that they had also deliberated on
relevant issues for the East Asia Summit and Copenhagen's climate change
conference.
-- BERNAMA
JAKARTA, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will study the request made by the Australian government to tighten immigration controls and issuance of visas to prevent human trafficking and the problem of boat people, Prime Minister Najib Razak said Tuesday.
He said the request was conveyed by his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd,
during their bilateral meeting after attending the swearing-in ceremony of
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono here.
"The meeting was convened upon Rudd's request. He also expressed his
satisfaction with the good bilateral ties between our two countries," Najib said
at a press conference with the Malaysian media.
Specifically, Najib said, Rudd had raised several issues including
Australia's concern about the problem of boat people, who were making Malaysia
their transit point before making their way illegally into Australia.
A recent example, he said was concerning a group of Sri Lankan boat people
who entered Malaysia on their way to Australia, but ended detained by the
Indonesian authorities.
He said among the preventive measures that could be considered by Malaysia
were by increasing the number of immigration officers at certain countries, who
would scrutinise the visa applications to Malaysia, so that tourism and human
trafficking activities could be clearly ascertained.
The Prime Minister said it was learnt that the human trafficking activities
had become rampant because of the handsome profit, as the traffickers would
charge between US$15,000 and US$20,000 for each Sri Lankan who wanted to enter
Australia.
"This is also linked to Sri Lanka's internal stability. If the Sri Lankan
government can assure that the Tamils there can integrate in the country's
development, the possibility of them becoming boat people will be reduced," he
said.
Najib said they also discussed about Australia's offer to help Malaysia in
enhancing vocational education for school leavers.
"Prime Minister Rudd will send his officials to Kuala Lumpur to discuss
further about the offer soon," he said, adding that they had also deliberated on
relevant issues for the East Asia Summit and Copenhagen's climate change
conference.
-- BERNAMA
