KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should have closer ties with the Asean nations in order to solve the immigrant problem, said the Spanish ambassador to Malaysia, María Bassols Delgado.
Senate President Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang said this was one of the suggestions made to him during the courtesy call by the Spanish ambassador to his office at the Parliament building, here yesterday.
According to Abu Zahar, in the one-hour meeting, Delgado told him that close understanding between the Asean countries would result in a more effective approach to identify the individuals who entered the country illegally and without identification papers.
This would facilitate the process of sending them back to their countries of origin.
“Delgado is fully aware of the current developments in the country and I see that she is very experienced in issues involving the management of immigrants, based on her wide experience in foreign affairs since 1985,” Abu Zahar said.
Abu Zahar said the European countries had more than 47 million people, with more than one million comprising immigrants from Morocco who entered legitimately to work. Besides exchanging ideas on two-way relations, Abu Zahar said Delgado also expressed her interest to bring together the Spanish Foreign Ministry Committee delegation with several Malaysian ministers. — Bernama