S 243
UNCLASSIFIED
FM KUALA LUMPUR 2686452 JAN 79
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 63 OF 26 JANUARY
52
HECK 843/1
INFO BANGKOK JAKARTA MANILA SINGAPORE GOWNLONG HORA UKMI
WASHINGTON UKMIS NEW YORK AND WELLINGTON
EVA
BSEVA
MY TEL NO 41 : REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM,
PA
1. SPEAKING TO THE PRESS IN SABAH ON 24 JANUARY DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DR MAHATHIR SAID THAT QUOTE THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED NOT TO ALLOW ANY MORE VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. ALL FUTURE REFUGEE BOATS WOULD TO TOWED OUT TO INTERNATIONAL WATERS UNQUOTE.
2. HE SAID THAT THE REASON WAS THE DISCOVERY OF A GROUP CALLING ITSELF QUOTE THE WORLD VISION UNQUOTE WHO WERE HELPING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE COME TO MALAYSIA. THIS GROUP, HE SAID, MET REFUGEES IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, PROVIDED THEM WITH MAPS, COMPASSES AND OTHER NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, DIRECTED THEM TO MALAYSIA AND INSTRUCTED THEM TO SINK THEIR BOATS ON ARRIVAL.
*
3. UNHCR ARE AWARE OF THE GROUP MENTIONED BY DR MAHATHIR. THEY THINK THEY ARE PRIVATE AND MAY HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH THE USA AND NEW ZEALAND, WITH AN OFFICE IN BANGKOK AND ALSO POSSIBLY IN SINGAPORE.
HUNT
:
FILES
PS
FS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/MR LUARD
PS/PUS
UND
HK & GD
SHAD
FED
SAD
SIR A DUFF
EID (E)
MR CONTAZZI
PUSD
FR WEIR
OID
IPD
NEWS D
MR MURRAY
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
MR BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE
MR BIRT
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
MVD