Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
SEPANG, Jan 21 (Bernama) — A large-scale operation to flush out foreign workers, who fail to register under the special programme on the management of illegal immigrants (PKPP), has begun.
Some 10,000 enforcement personnel from the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysia Police and People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) took part in the nationwide exercise which started just after midnight after the three-month special programme officially ended yesterday.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was time for the government to act against errant employers who did not take the opportunity to register illegal immigrants under their tutelage seriously.
“The special taskforce has concurred that the PKPP will not be extended as the employers had already been given ample time (to register their workers).
“We had given them the opportunity as we sympathise with their claim that they had been cheated by agents. Ironically, they continue to stall the process to the extent that they violated the law. There is no more compromise,” he told reporters during a crackdown on illegal immigrants near the KL International Airport here Tuesday.
About 700 personnel from the Immigration Department Headquarters in Putrajaya took part in the operation.
Present were Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Khalid Shariff and Immigration Department director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad.
Ahmad Zahid said the operation would continue and those captured would be deported within seven days to avoid overcrowding in detention centres as well as to cut costs.
“There are 15 immigration depots nationwide and we have also gazetted a number of places as temporary detention centres,” he said.
The PKPP, conducted by the Home Ministry’s one-stop centre, enabled employers claiming to have been cheated by agents or middlemen during the 6P programme on legalisation of illegal migrant workers to scrutinise their applications.
Those caught will be deported to their country of origin with the cost borne by them, their employer or embassy while employers who hired them will be charged under the Immigration Act.
In KUALA LUMPUR, 454 illegal immigrants, including 82 women, aged between 20 and 50 were hauled up in an operation at Wisma Hock Ann as well as in Jalan Haji Hussein, Chow Kit.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration enforcement division assistant director James Musa Singa said they were made up of 257 Indonesians, Bangladeshis (60), Myanmar nationals (41), Indians (39), Nepalese (30), Pakistanis (18), Vietnamese (two), Nigerian, Thai, Yemeni, Togolese (one each), unknown nationalities (three).
Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who took part in the operation, said he was satisfied with the Standard Operations Procedure (SOP) used during the crackdown and in handling the illegal immigrants where no untoward incidents were reported.
In SEREMBAN, the Negeri Sembilan Immigration Department picked up 32 illegal immigrants, seven women, aged between 21 and 50 at several construction sites in Nilai and Seremban.
Its director, Faizal Fazri Othman said they comprised Indonesians, Bangladeshis, Myanmar nationals and Indians.
They were later taken to the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for screening, he said when contacted.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, an elderly man and an eight-month-old baby were among 135 illegal immigrants detained at 54 locations by 154 personnel from the Immigration Department, Rela, Civil Defence Department, National Registration Department and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Terengganu Immgration Department director Mohd Shahrir Khalil said most of them were Indonesians, Cambodians and Bangladeshis who flouted the Immigration Act 1963.
They were taken to the Ajil detention depot for investigations.
In KUCHING, 72 illegal immigrants from Indonesia and Myanmar were arrested around the city in an operation carried out by about 100 Immigration Department personnel and Rela members.
Sarawak Immigration Department director Hamfatullah Syawal Hamdan said the operation was carried out at construction sites in Kampung Gersik, Petra Jaya, Demak Laut and Samariang.
The crackdown was also carried out in Bau, Serian, Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Limbang, he told reporters after the operation.
In MELAKA, 61 illegal immigrants, including two babies aged one month and seven months, were held in an operation in the state.
Melaka Immigration Department deputy director (control) Abu Bakar Sidek Hasan said they consisted of 32 Indonesians, including nine women, a baby boy and a baby girl, Myanmar nationals (24), Nepalese (three), and Bangladeshis (two).
In PERAK, 88 Myanmar illegal immigrants, including three women were detained at four locations in Lumut and Manjung.
Perak Immigration Department head of enforcement Wan Mahmud Zuhdi Wan Hassan said the operation was carried out in plantations, construction sites, factories and squatter areas.
He said 126 personnel from the Immigration Department, Civil Defence Department and National Registration Department aided by 150 Rela members took part in the operation.
In KUANTAN, 37 illegal immigrants were detained for various offences at a housing construction site in Bukit Rangin.
Pahang Immigration Department assistant director Razali Ahmad, who led the operation, said 57 personnel from the Immigration Department, Rela and Civil Defence Department took part in the operation.
In PENANG, 46 illegal immigrants, including 14 women and three children, were held at Taman Pelangi flats in Juru.
Penang Immigration Department head of enforcement Basri Othman said the illegal immigrants aged between five and 40 were made up of Indonesians, Myanmar nationals, Bangladeshis and Nepalese.
In KANGAR, 26 illegal immigrants, including a woman, aged between 18 and 48 were arrested at the construction site in Pauh.
Perlis Immigration Department deputy director Zulhelmi Zulkifli said they were made up of Myanmar, Bangladeshi and Indonesian nationals.
In KEDAH, 144 foreign workers aged between 24 and 48 were detained at the Taman SP Saujana construction site, Ambangan Height in Sungai Petani and a factory in Kuala Ketil, Baling.
Kedah Immigration Department head of enforcement Nar Azaman Ibrahim said they were from Myanmar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Nepal.
About 100 Immigration officers, who took part in the operation, also picked up 14 Myanmar and Indonesian children, including nine girls, aged between three and 12, from worker quarters in Taman SP Saujana.
In SANDAKAN, 35 Filipino nationals, including 16 women, aged between two and 59 were held at two squatter areas in Mile 8.
Immigration Department deputy director (Sandakan) Muhammad Isa Halsey, who led the operation, said they were detained under Section 6 (1) (C) of the Immigration Act 1959 (amendment 2002) for entering the country without valid passes.
They are remanded for 14 days from today at the Sandakan detention centre.
Muhammad Isa said the Immigration Department was aided by Rela and the National registration Department in the operation.
In Tawau, the Tawau Immigration Office held 76 illegal immigrants, including 49 women, aged between six months and 70 years in Kampung James Power and Kampung Batu Empat.
Tawau Immigration Office chief Noraini Rasi said 160 personnel from the police, Rela, National Registration Department and Tawau Municipal Council screened 804 foreign nationals during the operation.
In JOHOR BAHARU, 148 illegal immigrants, including 14 women were arrested at several construction sites in Kluang, Muar, Kota Tinggi, Pontian, Nusajaya and Johor Baharu.
Johor Immigration Department deputy head of enforcement Masri Adul said they comprised of Indonesians (94), Pakistanis (four), Bangladeshis (13), Nepalese (23), Myanmar nationals (five) and Cambodians (nine).
He said 200 enforcement personnel from the National Anti-Drug Agency, Civil Defence Department, National Registration Department and Rela took part in the operation.
Source: BERNAMA
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com