Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today revealed how some agents and syndicates who cheat illegals, are living in luxury. However, I believe there are also foreigners who prey on their own countrymen by cheating them all around.
Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said he had proof that there were agents and syndicates master-minded by foreign nationals who were cheating the illegal immigrants and were currently living luxuriously and even being awarded the title of 'Datuk Seri.'
As such, he said he had directed the Immigration Department of Malaysia so that enforcement activities to nab illegal immigrants were also focused on the agents and syndicates bringing them in.
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Commenting further, Zahid said he had directed the Immigration Department of Malaysia director-general, via the enforcement division, aided by the Royal Malaysia Police and Department of Volunteers Malaysia to conduct full enforcement.
"The Immigration Act 1959 is heavy enough, but if the people wants the act to be strengthened and its penalties increased, the Home Ministry is prepared to do it.
"I will discuss with my two deputies and the Ministry's Secretary General to seek legal advise to strengthen the act and existing regulations," he added.
Another thing Zahid should give attention to is the 'hidden hands' from a few enforcement officers like immigration, the police and Rela. This has been a complementing factor to those syndicates, notably at the country's entry points.
The unmanned illegal entry points too add to the problem.
Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said he had proof that there were agents and syndicates master-minded by foreign nationals who were cheating the illegal immigrants and were currently living luxuriously and even being awarded the title of 'Datuk Seri.'
As such, he said he had directed the Immigration Department of Malaysia so that enforcement activities to nab illegal immigrants were also focused on the agents and syndicates bringing them in.
"Enforcement operations found 95 per cent of illegal immigrants entering the country had valid documents but in the end fell victims to the agents and syndicates. Most of the victims of the agents and syndicates were from Bangladesh, Indonesia and Myanmar.He said this at a media conference after opening the 2015 Immigration Day Celebration in Miri (pic).
"We find almost 95 per cent of illegal immigrants coming to this country had valid documents but became illegals to stay here as their documents were either held by the agents or syndicates. There are also employers who kept their travel documents and work permits."
Commenting further, Zahid said he had directed the Immigration Department of Malaysia director-general, via the enforcement division, aided by the Royal Malaysia Police and Department of Volunteers Malaysia to conduct full enforcement.
"I want the Immigration Department of Malaysia to focus not only on nabbing illegals but also to seek, investigate, arrest and take to court the agents and syndicates involved," he said.Zahid also said that heavier punishments would be meted out if the agents and syndicates involved were found guilty.
"The Immigration Act 1959 is heavy enough, but if the people wants the act to be strengthened and its penalties increased, the Home Ministry is prepared to do it.
"I will discuss with my two deputies and the Ministry's Secretary General to seek legal advise to strengthen the act and existing regulations," he added.
Another thing Zahid should give attention to is the 'hidden hands' from a few enforcement officers like immigration, the police and Rela. This has been a complementing factor to those syndicates, notably at the country's entry points.
The unmanned illegal entry points too add to the problem.