KUALA LUMPUR: A total 16,085 illegal immigrants were detained since last year under 'Ops Benteng', the Dewan Negara was told today.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mastura Yazid said 1,158 tekong (locals harbouring illegal immigrants) were also arrested in the joint-operations first conducted 17 months ago.
"Up to Oct 11, various assets worth about RM644.63 million in total, were confiscated.
"Due to the increasing threats and complexity of national security management, the government would continue to increase capacity and competency of security forces and enforcement in protecting the country," she said in reply to a question from Senator Datuk Jefridin Atan.
She said the operations were conducted by the National Task Force, comprising 19 agencies, including the armed forces, police, Immigration Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to strengthen the country's border controls and prevent Covid-19 infections.
She said 'Ops Benteng' was conducted through three elements, namely, maritime, land and air operations.
In curbing intrusions into Malaysian waters, she said 22 ships and 120 interceptor boats were deployed, involving 100 officers and 1,178 personnel.
Enforcement agencies also mounted 472 roadblocks nationwide, involving 554 officers and 10,668 personnel.
Meanwhile, air operations saw 2,822 sorties deployed, covering 8,288.9 hours of air time and 1.3 million nautical miles at Malaysia's maritime, especially the hotspots, she said.
"For drones, 2,809.8 hours of air time involving 7,869 sorties were executed. These tasks involved 217 officers and 194 personnel."
Earlier, she said Malaysia's strategic position and peace had been a pulling factor for the illegal immigrants entering the country.
To address this, several measures were taken including enforcing the National Security Council Act, executing National Security Council Directives, cooperation with Indonesian authorities through joint guard posts with the republic's armed forces, bilateral cooperation with the neighbouring country through General Border Committee-GBC Malindo and enhancing the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).
