117 EMPLOYERS NABBED FOR HIRING ILLEGALS

Penang has the highest number of cases, says Immigration D-G

ATOTAL of 117 employers have been arrested for hiring illegal immigrants during the month-long Op Mega, which began on June 30.

Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali yesterday said Penang recorded the highest number of cases with 30 employers arrested, followed by Johor (23), Putrajaya (19), Kuala Lumpur (13) and Pahang (5).

He said Terengganu and Perak recorded three cases each, while Selangor had one case.

He said the employers were being investigated under Section 56 (1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for harbouring illegal immigrants, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000.

Employers found harbouring more than one illegal immigrant are staring at a jail term of up to five years and a maximum six strokes of the rotan, if convicted.

Mustafar said the department had rounded up 5,437 illegals throughout Op Mega.

He said stern action would be taken against errant employers as they were contributing to the influx of illegal workers.

He said despite initiatives taken by the government, including the implementation of the Enforcement Card (E-Card) programme, many employers were still hiring illegal immigrants.

“We have given employers ample time to legalise their workers through the E-Card programme.

“Now, it is time to take stern action against those harbouring illegal immigrants.

“The due process of the law will take place to ensure the country is free of illegal immigrants,” Mustafar said at the 2017 Immigration Department convention at Muazam Shah Hall in Universiti Utara Malaysia here yesterday.

The convention was officiated by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.