E-Paper
Malaysia mulls Australia's request on immigration control
Malaysia will study the request made by the Australian government to tighten immigration controls and issuance of visas to prevent human trafficking, Prime Minister Najib Razak has said.
Malaysia will study the request made by the Australian government to tighten immigration controls and issuance of visas to prevent human trafficking, Prime Minister Najib Razak has 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 in Jakarta, Najib said.
"The meeting was convened upon Rudd's request. He also expressed his satisfaction with the good bilateral ties between our two countries," the Malaysian Prime Minister 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.
Among the preventive measures that could be considered by Malaysia were increasing the number of immigration officers at certain countries, who would scrutinise visa applications to Malaysia, so that tourism and human trafficking activities could be clearly ascertained.
