Flogging Suggested For Illegal Workers

Sat., Oct. 19, 1996

Compiled From Wire Services

Malaysia announced severe new penalties for illegal immigrants Friday, including a proposal to flog illegal workers, their employers and those who smuggle them into the country.

“The existing laws against them are not enough. We want them to be severe,” Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said of the proposed law, expected to be passed by parliament by the end of the year.

It calls for deporting first-time illegal immigrants and caning those who are caught returning. It imposes a fine on employers the first time they hire illegal workers and a caning if they are caught doing it again. Repeat offenders could be jailed up to five years.

About 1 million people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma and other Asian nations are believed to have entered Malaysia illegally in pursuit of jobs.

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Flogging Suggested For Illegal Workers

Jesse Tinsley

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