The Malaysian and Singapore governments are intensifying their persecution of impoverished workers fleeing from Indonesia in search of work. Growing numbers of workers and their families are risking their lives to escape from Indonesia, where at least 8.5 million are now unemployed. In Malaysia, groups of immigrant workers are rounded up daily.
Police mount raids on coastal villages and set up roadblocks inland.
Every night marine police and coast guard personnel chase motor boats and trawlers to prevent landings on the country's 2,000 kilometre coastline, particularly along the Melaka Straits, facing Indonesia. Between February 9 and March 1, Malaysian authorities tracked 332 boat landings and detained 3,971 immigrants. By early March, Malaysia's 10 detention centres held 11,000 prisoners and were stretched to the bursting point. A typical mass arrest followed the setting up of a roadblock at Kampung Merotai in Sabah on March 16. Authorities were informed in advance of a large group of people being transported from the township of Tawau.