More than 57,000 illegal immigrants arrested in Malaysia in 9 months

The Immigration Department of the country has arrested more than 57,000 illegal immigrants on the allegation of violating the immigration law in Malaysia till September 17 of the current year. In the same period more than 1,30,000 foreign nationals have been interrogated and searched by conducting more than 9,700 drives across the country.

Deputy Director General (Operations) of the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) Datuk Lokman Efendi Ramli has informed this information on Monday. He informed that more than 35,000 of the arrested persons have been arrested in the own drives of JIM. And more than 22,000 foreigners have been arrested at various entry points of the country or taken into the custody of JIM after being handed over from other law enforcement agencies.

Lokman Efendi said more than 9,700 drives have been conducted across the country in 260 days from January 1 to September 17. According to that calculation the Immigration Department has conducted about 37 drives on average every day.

He informed these pieces of information to the journalists after finishing a coordinated drive at Flat Sri Kalame in a local residential area at dawn on Monday. Along with JIM the members of the National Security Council (MKN), National Registration Department (JPN) and Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) took part in the drive.

133 foreign nationals were examined in the drive of Flat Sri Kalame. Among them 19 have been arrested on the allegation of violating the immigration law. The officials informed that there are allegations like staying in Malaysia beyond the fixed time, not having valid travel documents and using the pass or work permit beyond the approved purpose against the arrested.

This official of JIM said their drives to stop illegal immigration are not remaining limited only within the arrest of foreign nationals. Measures are also being taken according to the law against the persons giving employment to illegal immigrants, the owners of business establishments and the owners of houses or residential structures.

He further said if any employer employs or gives shelter to an illegal immigrant without a valid employment pass a case will be filed against him. In the same way the owners giving houses or business establishments on rent to illegal immigrants will also be brought under the law.

According to the information of JIM, cases have been filed against 1,720 employers across the country on the allegation of violating the immigration law till September 17. In the calculation of 260 days about six employers or owners of structures have been filed such cases against on average every day.