Accounts of errant employers to be frozen

KUCHING: Employers found guilty of hiring and protecting illegal foreign workers will have their accounts and assets frozen.

State Immigration Department director Ken Leben warned yesterday that the Immigration Department of Malaysia was getting tough on errant employers in line with the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act.

“Employers will not only face a compound, we will freeze their assets if they do not adhere to the law,” he told a press conference after opening the state-level Immigration Day at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, Jalan Simpang Tiga here yesterday.

“Now we are still in the process of studying the legality of the procedure and finalising it in accordance to the law before implementation and enforcement but rest assured, it will come into effect next year,” he said.

The annual celebration this year

Now we are still in the process of studying the legality of the procedure and finalising it in accordance to the law before implementation and enforcement but rest assured, it will come into effect next year.

was attended by Sarawak Federal Secretary Datuk Mohd Zuki Ali as well as senior officers and staff of the Immigration Department.

Leben earlier revealed that the immigration enforcement section had carried out 571 operations up until November this year, with 22,383 checks conducted on immigrants and leading to the arrest of 2,041 offenders so far.

“If we break down the number of operations conducted under the ‘Hari-Hari Operasi’ programme, at least two operations were conducted a day on average,” he revealed.

Leben added that 116,000 foreign workers were employed in Sarawak at the moment.

On another issue in light of the 14th general election ( GE14) rumoured to be called soon, he explained that the status quo of politicians, activists or individuals blacklisted from entering Sarawak remained.

“I will act on the instructions of the state authority unless the State Secretary Office lifts the ban,” he said, assuring all that the department is closely monitoring any suspicious activity throughout Sarawak.

“We are very vigilant and mindful of this matter with strict enforcement on ground. That’s why I pointed out that the Immigration Department, one way or another, contributed to the success of the last state election,” he added.

Leben warned that individuals would only find out they were blacklisted upon arrival at the Immigration entry points.

Ken Leben, State Immigration Department director