Immigration Department rounds up 108 illegals at Tg Manis sawmill
KUCHING: A total of 108 illegal immigrants were arrested during an operation by the state Immigration Department at sawmill in Tanjong Manis on Monday.
Immigration Sarawak director Ken Leben said the operation began at 8am and involved a total of 85 of its enforcement division officers and personnel from Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei and Sibu.
“Upon realising the presence of the authorities, most of the immigrants who were working at that time attempted to escape. Some hid beneath a stack of plywood, climbed the roof, ran into bushes and into the nearby forest,” he said in a statement yesterday.
During the raid, a total 120 workers were inspected comprising nine Malaysians, 109 Indonesians (70 men and 39 women), and one each from Bangladesh and India.
Ken pointed out that the swift action by the raiding team led to the arrest of all those who attempted to flee the scene.
Of the total workers inspected, 108 were found to have committed immigration-related offences.
These included 68 Indonesians (38 men and 28 women) who were found to have overstayed and were detained under Section 15(1)(C) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.
A further 39 Indonesians, along with the Bangladeshi and Indian, were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the same Act for failing to produce valid travel documents and identification.
On the same day, Ken said the Immigration Department also conducted raids on two entertainment outlets in Sibu following a public tip- off.
However, during the inspection, no arrest was made as all of the foreign workers at the two outlets had valid work permits.
Ken stressed that the department would not compromise in its enforcement work.
“The Immigration Department will not ‘give face’ to any individual and employer who plot in taking foreign workers without valid work permits and protecting these illegal immigrants. Do not mess with the Immigration Department as legal action will be taken against the offenders.”