KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department has not authorised the setting up of a volunteer unit, as announced by Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), to nab illegal immigrants and urged the public to let the authorities handle matters relating to immigration.
Its director-general, Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud, was referring to the announcement by Putra, which claimed that it had launched a volunteer unit to help the authorities tackle the rising number of illegal immigrants.
Khairul cited Section 51 of the Immigrations Act 1959/63, which stated that only Immigration and Customs officers, as well as police, were authorised to arrest a non-citizen for staying illegally.
He said the handling of illegal immigrants was the authorities’ responsibility according to the law and no other organisation or outfit was authorised
to do so.
“The department has been conducting operations and enforcement checks to curb the presence of illegal immigrants, including foreign tourists who had overstayed,” he said yesterday.
The public, he said, was welcome to provide information on illegal immigrants to the authorities.
“However, the public should not take matters into their own hands.”
He said the department had conducted 17,238 operations since Jan 1 this year.
He added that a total of 50,715 illegal immigrants and 1,251 employers were arrested during the period.
“Illegal immigrants who have been arrested will be investigated, prosecuted and punished (if found guilty) before they are deported to their countries,” said Khairul.
Earlier, Putra president Datuk Dr Ibrahim Ali said the unit’s 2,000 volunteers were ready to help the Immigration Department deal with the rising number of illegal immigrants, including overstayers.
Ibrahim said Putra would arrange a meeting with Khairul Dzaimee and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador to inform its intention to work with the authorities.
He said the volunteer unit would serve to complement the authorities’ manpower.
