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The Immigration Department says it wants the police and courts to refuse bail
to errant employers because the offence is a serious one.
Department enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohamed said the move was being
considered for those arrested after the amnesty period for illegal immigrants
ends at midnight tonight.
“The offence is a serious one, where the employers face a penalty of mandatory
jail and whipping so we want them to be denied bail,” he told The Star
yesterday.
He said the department would seek the cooperation of the police and courts
on this matter as weeding out illegals was among the nation’s priorities.
Employers have until tonight to send their illegal workers back to their home
countries.
Otherwise, they risk being arrested by the biggest raiding team mobilised to
hunt down illegals in the country, comprising 500,000 officers from the Immigration
Department, the police, Rela and Rukun Tetangga.
From tomorrow, door-to-door raids will be conducted at factories, plantations,
construction sites, restaurants and homes to weed out illegals. Employers who
are arrested will be detained in police lockups while the illegals will be held
in 13 detention centres nationwide which can hold up to 16,000 inmates.
Ishak said even those who surrender themselves after the deadline would be
arrested because they are considered illegals once the amnesty has ended.
“After we arrest them, we will submit our investigation reports to the
Deputy Public Prosecutor who will decide whether to charge them or not.
“But as far as we are concerned, they have been given enough time during
the amnesty period which was extended twice,” said Ishak.
Asked if the detention centres would be able to accommodate all the illegals
rounded up, he said raids under the operation – set to go on indefinitely –
would be scheduled accordingly.
“We will go all out to nab those who are still in the country until the
situation forces us to slow down. If necessary, we will also look for other
locations to serve as detention centres,” he said.
Ishak advised employers not to hire illegals and urged them to give their fullest
cooperation if officers raided their premises.
“Please get all your workers’ documents ready and tell them to be calm
during the raids.
“If you are not at your premises, please leave phone numbers where you
can be contacted anytime to present the documents,” he said.
Unlike last month, Ishak said the number of illegals leaving the country did
not experience a sudden surge towards the end of the amnesty period this time.
“So far, even today’s (Sunday) figures have not shown any major increase.
This could be because of rumours of another extension but as far as I know,
there is no such announcement,” he said.
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