NO LET-UP IN OP AGAINST ILLEGALS
Dept ensures sovereignty of nation, don’t be eager to find fault with it, says Immigration D-G
THE Immigration Department will continue its operations to curb illegal immigrants from entering the country, said director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali. Mustafar said the department would not compromise on the issue to ensure that Malaysia’s sovereignty and security were protected.
“If we look at the influx of foreigners, it appears that enforcement is weak and that no action was taken (to address this issue).
“However, we (Immigration Department) are blamed when action is taken against illegal immigrants.
“Opportunities and regulations in hiring foreign workers have been provided and they must be done in line with the conditions imposed by the Home Ministry and the government,” he said yesterday.
Mustafar said Malaysia needed foreign workers, but employers must hire them in accordance with the law.
“Don’t be too eager to blame the enforcement agencies that are carrying out their duty to curb illegals.
“These agencies are upholding the law,” he said.
The Bar Council had urged the government to stop operations against illegal immigrants.
Its president, George Varughese, said a large number of immigrants had no way of obtaining legitimate documents and they had to depend on their employers.
He said most of them could not obtain such documents as the authorities did not provide any avenue for them to obtain legal status.