38,375 ILLEGALS NABBED SINCE JAN 1
Action taken against 1,102 employers, says Immigration D-G
THE Immigration Department has detained 38,375 illegal immigrants in 12,130 operations since Jan 1. Its director-general, Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali, said legal action had been taken against 1,102 employers for harbouring and employing illegal workers.
He said 157,000 immigrants were screened during the operations.
Last year, he said, the Immigration Department detained 48,468 illegal immigrants.
“We want to reduce the number of arrests by preventing illegal immigrants from entering the country.
“If they come here to work, they must obtain the appropriate pass.
“The same goes for foreign students and tourists. Don’t come to Malaysia with a social visit pass and work here illegally.
“We have rules and we have discussed the matter with embassies,” he said after launching the Immigration detention depot in Belantik here yesterday.
Mustafar said 18,000 illegal immigrants had been detained under Op Mega 3.0 since July 1.
He said 70,000 immigrants were screened in 5,249 operations.
“We are carrying out the operations because the Immigration Department has been entrusted with this responsibility. We have received requests to reduce the number of operations.
“However, there are more requests for us to be strict and to carry out our duties. The country’s security and sovereignty cannot be compromised.”