Cool resxonse to KL amnesty by migrants

Illegal immigrants in Malaysia appeared cool to an amnesty programme, which began yesterday despite threats of jail and whipping if they do not leave, senior officials said.

The Malaysian government hopes some 400,000 people, mainly Indonesians working illegally, will head home during the 17-day amnesty programme to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

If they do not, they face jail sentences of up to five years or fines of up to 10,000 ringgit (2,632 dollars), or both, plus whipping. Thousands of illegal immigrants have reportedly been whipped in Malaysian prisons since harsh new laws were introduced two years ago.

"There was not much response early today (Friday). Only 251 Indonesians, mainly men, have left Port Klang" west of the capital Kuala Lumpur, the Selangor state immigration director, Che Mamat Abdullah, told AFP.

"We expect more people to leave in the coming days."

In southern Johor state, the three ports of Stulang Laut, Pasir Gudang and Kukup were also quiet, officials said.

"The departure of illegals is not so encouraging. So far only 800 people have left," Mohamad Nasir Osman, acting Johor immigration director told AFP.

The immigration chiefs said they expected the volume of departures to pick up in the next few days and cautioned the migrants not to leave at the last minute.

Che Mamat said the illegal immigrants could only depart if they had valid travel documents and a ferry ticket. All those leaving are fingerprinted, he said.

Home Affairs Minister Azmi Khalid said Indonesia would send two naval vessels to Malaysia on Monday to help the repatriation and he would meet Indonesia's Manpower Minister Fahmi Idris on Wednesday to discuss the exercise.

A total of some 400,000 illegal workers were expected to return to their countries of origin during the amnesty period, he said.

There are an estimated 1.2 million illegal immigrants in Malaysia, mainly from neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines, drawn by jobs in construction, plantation work and services.