Malaysia blames West in justification of refugee move

Press, 18 June 1979, Page 1

Malaysia blames West in justification of refugee move

NZPA

Kuala Lumpur

The Malaysian Foreign Minister (Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen) said yesterday that Malaysia was justified in deciding to deport Vietnamese refugees because of the dismal Western response to the '’’boat people” problem.

“It is so disgusting, the response is so bad, that our patience is at an end,” he said. “Our capacity to take these illegal immigrants is limited and humanitarianism should begin at home.” Tengku Rithauddeen’s remarks reinforced Malaysia’s announced intention to send more than 73,000 Vietnamese refugees back out to sea.

He appeared to offer no comfort to Western and United Nations authorities alarmed by Malaysia’s announcement that not only would it deport the refugees but it would shoot on sight at any boats seen trying to land. Tengku Rithauddeen said that the number of refugees leaving for resettlement had been so low, and the influx so great, that Malaysia had to act unilaterally. However, it appears that

Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia have fashioned a common “get tough” approach to the refugee problem.

Indonesia has mounted a naval blockade of its northern coast, while Thailand has pushed back thousands of Kampucheans fleeing the continuing war in their homeland. The Thais sent another 2500 refugees back into Kampuchea on Saturday, and intend to begin the repatriation of another 40,000 today, in spite of an urgent appeal by the United Nations SecretaryGeneral (Dr Kurt Waldheim) to delay the expulsions.

Tengku Rithaudden said that he would call in Ambassadors from fellow members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (A.S.E.A.N.) — Singapore and the Philippines as well as Thailand

and Indonesia — to explain Malaysia’s new policy. He also said that the

Prime Minister (Datuk Hussein Onn), would reply to an urgent message from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Mr P. Hartling), who has urged Malaysia to continue to show humanitarianism and compassion towards the refugees. The Malaysian Deputy Premier (Datuk Mahathir Mohamex) said that the first refugees to be sent back to sea would come from among 40,000 now on a tiny east coast island, Bidong, which is in the South China Sea about 24km off the coast. The area has been reinforced with Navy and shore patrols, but there has been no sign of unusual activity in the area to signal imminent action against the refugees.

1 C 7 Attention now is focused on the Malaysian Parliament. which will resume today. The Opposition Democratic Action Party has called for an emergency debate on the Government's decision. Tengku Rithauddeen said that Governments-- expressing shocks about Malaysia's decision “do not understand the gravity of the position.” He said that he had called in the Vietnamese Ambassador (Vu Bac Mai). He emphasised that the refugee problem had reached a critical stage, and also said: "This problem is not of our own making.” The Press Association reports from Wellington that New Zealand is already accepting as many Vietnamese refugees as it can. according to the DeputyPrime Minister (Mr Taiboys). “New Zealand is doing what it can to assist.” he said. The 900 refugees New Zealand was taking put it fourth in the world on a per head basis. The New Zealand United Nations Association yesterday called for a "wider door” policy bv the Government. In Canberra, the Australian Immigration Minister (Mr MacKellar) has described the Malavsian Government’s reaction to the refugee problem as understandable. NZPA-Reuter reports from Tokyo that the United States has asked Jap • r to accept more than 10,000 Vietnamese refugees. In Canberra, the Aus tralian Government has receiv ed secret information that the Vietnamese Government is providing vessels for refugees leaving the country. Government sources said that the Vietnamese Government had estab : lished shipyards purelv for the purpose of building boats for refugees.