Nine Burmese nationals arrested outside two embassies in Kuala Lumpur last week while trying to highlight political problems in their country were today charged with immigration-related offences.

The nine, arrested on separate occasions, were charged at the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court under Section 6 of the Immigration Act 2002 for entering Malaysia without a valid permit or overstaying their permit.

All nine have claimed trial. If found guilty, they are liable to a maximum fine of RM10,000, a jail term of up to five years and up to six strokes of the rotan.