Caning acts as a deterrent to hiring illegals, says Immigration D-G

KOTA KINABALU: The courts are not imposing caning on employers found guilty of hiring or harbouring six or more illegal foreign workers, although the punishment is provided for, says the Immigration Department.

Immigration director- general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said caning errant employers would be a deterrent to those planning to hire illegal immigrants.

“The courts had not imposed the caning sentence, although it is provided for under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for those employing six or more illegal immigrants.

“Our record shows that over the past two years, only three employers were ordered to be caned from the 1,400 charged in courts,” he said after attending the Sabah Immigration Department monthly gathering here yesterday.

Mustafar said they have met with Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum and gave theirs and public views about the need for the court to impose caning as a deterrent.

“This is an issue of sovereignty and security. We feel that the provisions of the law should be used to send a clear message to those hiring illegals.

“Some people say that caning could be seen as cruel, but if we look at it from the security and sovereignty aspect, it is a matter which cannot be compromised,” he said, adding that other countries have provisions for mandatory caning as a deterrent, too.

Mustafar said such punishment have a positive effect on controlling illegal immigrant problems in the respective countries.

On another matter, he said a total of 27,000 people were screened in 1,371 operations in Sabah this year and 4,800 were detained as they were found to be illegal immigrants while 62 employers were arrested.

Nationwide, he said, 47,000 illegal immigrants were arrested in 14,500 operations where some 190,000 people were screened.

About 1,400 employers have been charged in courts.