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?
Home Affairs Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Datuk Paduka Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said low-ranking Rela members have no authority to organise such operations and they can be punished if they are found doing so.
<P>He was commenting on the arrest
of eight Rela members who raided a factory in Jenjarom, Selangor last Friday.</P><P>"If
the raid in Selangor was carried out by ordinary Rela members, then the police
were right in arresting the personnel," Abdul Rahman said after launching
the annual general meeting of Parent-Teacher Association of SM Teknik Jalan Stadium
here yesterday.</P><P>Abdul Rahman said there should be no confusion over the
role of Rela as it is clearly spelt out in their operating procedures.</P><P>"They
are only empowered to check on foreign workers. Even then, only senior district
or state officers are authorised to carry out these checks," he said.</P><P>He
said the decision to give Rela the authority to check on foreign workers was to
provide assistance to the police and Immigration Department.</P><P>"Their
powers, however, are not absolute as it is given only to the senior officers who
are former military and police personnel."</P><P>"These senior officers
are commissioned as colonels and can carry pistols during operations. They are
in charge of operations."</P><P>Rela director-general Datuk Zaidon Asmuni
also agreed that they are only empowered to arrest illegal immigrants.</P><P>"We
cannot conduct such operations on our own. Usually we send our personnel to assist
police in operations against illegals.</P><P>"We also assist in crime prevention
and crowd control if there is a request from the police."</P><P>In Kuala
Lumpur, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said police are open to
suggestions of joint operations with Rela.</P><P>"By all means, if Rela want
to conduct any joint operations against illegal immigrants, they can approach
the police.</P><P>"It is not a problem."</P><P>He said police would
continue their own operations against illegal immigrants and did not foresee any
problems of overlapping of duties.</P><P>Musa, however, pointed out that although
Rela have been given the authority to arrest illegal immigrants, Immigration Department
officers should also be present.</P><P>"This way, on the spot checks can
be made to verify the documents of the foreigners.</P><P>"Then there will
be no necessity to detain the foreigners until the checks are made."</P>
<P><I>Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Friday/National/20070309100008/Article/index_html</I>
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