ISU ANCAMAN NASIONAL DAN POLITIK DI SABAH : SAYA SUARA HATI RAKYAT

4 juta penguat kuasa digerak

2011-10-15T14:30:00.001+08:00

Lebih empat juta anggota penguat kuasa akan digerakkan secara bersepadu di seluruh negara apabila operasi besar-besaran dilaksanakan terhadap majikan serta pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) yang ingkar terhadap Program Penyelesaian Menyeluruh Pekerja/Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (Program 6P).

Operasi membabitkan lokasi di darat, laut, dan sempadan darat itu bakal diketuai Jabatan Imigresen dan disokong hampir tiga juta anggota Ikatan Relawan Rakyat (Rela), 125,000 anggota Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) dan 110,000 anggota Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM).

Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Dalam Negeri, Tan Sri Mahmood Adam berkata, keputusan tersebut dicapai dalam mesyuarat agensi penguat kuasa pelaksanaan program 6P anjuran Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) semalam.

“Mesyuarat turut membincangkan pendekatan serta kaedah penguatkuasaan yang akan digunakan ketika arahan operasi dikeluarkan sebaik sahaja tarikhnya diputuskan oleh kerajaan.

“Ia selaras dengan pelaksanaan fasa kedua Program 6P iaitu Proses Pemutihan yang bermula sejak Isnin lalu,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini.

Menurutnya, mesyuarat turut dihadiri wakil Kementerian Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan; Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan; Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan; Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN); Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia (Maritim Malaysia); Unit Pencegah Penyeludupan (UPP); Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK); Jabatan Depot; ATM; PDRM; Jabatan Imigresen dan Rela.

Selain kementerian-kementerian berkenaan, agensi lain yang turut akan bertindak sebagai sokongan pada program tersebut adalah Jabatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (JPAM); Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan (AADK); Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM); Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (JKDM); pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) dan Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK).

Bagi lokasi darat, operasinya akan membabitkan PDRM, Rela, ATM, JTK, Jabatan Depot, PBT, Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan, JPAM, AADK dan JKKK.

Operasi di laut pula diletakkan di bawah tanggungjawab JKDM, TLDM, Jabatan Laut dan Jabatan Perikanan sementara di sempadan darat pula akan membabitkan MKN, PDRM, Jabatan Imigresen, UPP, JKDM, JTK, Rela, Jabatan Depot serta Polis Sempadan di bawah KDN.

“Bagaimanapun, operasi penguatkuasaan ini hanya akan dilaksanakan oleh agensi yang mempunyai kuasa di bawah Akta Imigresen 1959/63, Akta Pasport 1966, ATIP (Pindaan) 2010 manakala agensi yang tidak tertakluk di bawah akta tersebut hanya boleh menjalankan operasi penguatkuasaan dengan disertai anggota Jabatan Imigresen sebagai peneraju,” katanya.

Sebagai agensi peneraju, Jabatan Imigresen bertanggungjawab merancang dan menyediakan pelan strategik operasi penguatkuasaan, menyelaras tindakan di peringkat negeri dan melaporkan statistik harian penguatkuasaan kepada Jawatankuasa Pelaksana Program 6P di KDN.

Berdasarkan prosedur operasi kerja yang dicadangkan KDN, majikan serta PATI yang tidak berdaftar dengan Program 6P akan diberi satu tempoh khusus bagi tampil menyerah diri di mana-mana pejabat Jabatan Imigresen seluruh negara.

“Tindakan menyerah diri ini akan mengecualikan mereka daripada hukuman undang-undang, tetapi pada masa yang sama majikan dan PATI terikat dengan peraturan untuk menghantar pulang PATI ke negara asal mereka dengan kos ditanggung sepenuhnya oleh pihak majikan,” tegas beliau.

Menurutnya, kerajaan akan mengumumkan tarikh akhir bagi proses menyerah diri dan selepas tamat tempoh tersebut, operasi besar-besaran akan dilaksanakan bagi menahan majikan serta PATI yang ingkar terhadap pelaksanaan Program 6P iaitu mendaftar bagi tujuan rekod biometrik atau menyerah diri selepas gagal melaksanakan pendaftaran.

‘Penalise those with illegals’

2011-10-10T14:52:00.001+08:00

Employer groups have urged the Government to enforce the law to “the maximum extent” in dealing with employers who failed to register their illegal workers during its 6P legalisation programme earlier this year.

Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said these employers had been given an amnesty period to register their workers.

“The window was already open for them. Now they have to face the consequences if they are caught,” he said yesterday, adding that they should not even be employing illegal workers to begin with.

He said some employers might have been tempted to do so as it was cheaper and they could avoid paying the levy and medical costs.

“The Government must be tough on these people as there are currently far too many foreign workers, especially illegal ones, in Malaysia,” he said.

Malaysia National Association of Employment Agencies president Datuk Raja Zulkepley Dahalan said the Home Ministry had informed them that it would “go seriously” after errant employers.

“We must support the Government's enforcement efforts. It needs to get statistics and know where these people are,” he said, adding that a fair amount of time had been given for employers to register their workers.

The Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrants, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, has directed enforcement authorities to act against errant employers with immediate effect.

He said immediate enforcement was necessary as bosses had been given ample time to register their illegal workers under the programme, including a deadline extension.

Program pemutihan 6P bermula Isnin ini

2011-10-06T10:34:00.000+08:00

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, proses pemutihan Program 6P melibatkan pekerja asing dan pendatang tanpa izin akan bermula Isnin ini dengan majikan degil akan menjadi buruan utama.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata, tidak ada pengampunan akan diberikan kerana kerajaan sudah menyediakan peluang yang mencukupi kepada mereka untuk mendaftar dengan sistem biometrik.

Menurutnya, sehingga hari ini seramai 2,320,034 pendatang asing telah berdaftar dengan 1,016, 906 adalah pendatang yang sah, manakala 1,303, 126 (977, 140 lelaki dan 325,986 perempuan) adalah pendatang haram.

Jelasnya, program pemutihan itu akan dibuat seiring dengan proses penguatkuasaan dan majikan degil akan dihadap ke mahkamah sebelum tindakan sama diambil ke atas pekerja asing dan pendatang tanpa izin.

"Kita tidak boleh benarkan lagi mereka ini. Langkah penting ialah tindakan tegas ke atas majikan dan kemudian pekerja. Kita juga akan mengambil tindakan tegas mengikut sektor dan ia akan dibuat dalam masa terdekat.

"Kerajaan sudah menawarkan peluang tetapi masih ramai yang tidak menyambut tawaran tersebut," katanya selepas mempengerusi Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kabinet Mengenai Pekerja Asing dan Pendatang Tanpa Izin, di Parlimen, di sini hari ini.

Hadir sama Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein dan Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam.

Dalam pada itu, Muhyiddin memberitahu, daripada lebih dua juta pendatang asing yang berdaftar dengan sistem biometrik di bawah Program 6P, seramai 50,000 dikenal pasti berkerja di sektor yang tidak dibenarkan.

Bagaimanapun, beliau memberi jaminan semua 50,000 pekerja itu akan diserap ke lima sektor yang dibenarkan iaitu perkilangan; peladangan; pertanian; pembinaan dan 15 jenis pekerjaan dalam sektor perkhidmatan.

"Proses ini akan mengambil masa. Kita akan tengok kekosongan dalam lima sektor berkenaan dan semua mereka akan diagih-agih mengikut permohonan daripada syarikat yang terbabit dalam sektor tersebut," katanya.

There’s room for 1.3 mil illegals

2011-10-05T22:21:00.001+08:00

The five sectors in which foreign workers are allowed can absorb all the 1.3 million illegal immigrants registered under the 6P legalisation programme.

The five sectors are manufacturing, plantations, agriculture, construction and the service sector.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said this was the findings of the first phase of the 6P.

“My ministry was informed that on paper, employers from five sectors are in need of this number of workers in total.

“However, whether all of the 1.3 million illegal immigants currently registered with us will be employed will depend on whether employers come forward to apply to hire foreign workers,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting with state immigration directors.

He said these sectors are in need of almost the same number of foreign workers.

Hishammuddin also stressed that should these illegal immigrants be given work permits to fill up the vacancies, it would not deprive locals of employment opportunities.

Under the first phase of the 6P programme to register immigrants, which ended on Aug 31, 2.32 million foreigners, of whom 1.3 million are illegals, were registered.

Hishammuddin said the Cabinet committee on foreign workers and illegal immigrants, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassinwould meet today to discuss several issues, including whether there was a need for a special policy to employ those who registered under the 6P.

On another matter, the minister said threats received by the Bangladeshi High Commissioner A.K.M. Atiqur Rahman showed that bilateral efforts to combat human trafficking had paid off.

“I have spoken to the High Commissioner last week and we are giving him round-the-clock protection,” he said.

The Bangladesh High Commission had received threats and warnings from syndicates and middlemen following its decision not to allow third parties to collect passports for those who have registered under the 6P programme.

Kerajaan pusat komited atasi masalah PATI di Sabah

2011-09-24T18:34:00.000+08:00

Kerajaan Pusat komited untuk mencari jalan penyelesaian terbaik kepada isu pendatang tanpa izin (PATI) di Sabah meskipun ia merupakan satu masalah besar yang amat mencabar.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, kerajaan juga melihat perkara itu dengan serius dan mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya.

"Saya fikir Perdana Menteri mengetahui perkara ini dan boleh memutuskannya. Di Sabah sudah ada Jawatankuasa Khas yang dibentuk dalam Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah mengenai PATI yang dipengerusikan Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (Timbalan Ketua Menteri).

"Saya sanggup melihat semua aspek...kita akan ambil kira setiap laporan jawatankuasa itu sama ada langkah ke depan memerlukan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja (RCI) atau pendekatan lain,” katanya.

Muhyddin berkata demikian ketika berucap pada majlis perasmian persidangan perwakilan tiga tahun sekali ke 13 Pertubuhan Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Bersatu (Upko) di Pusat Kebudayaan Penampang, di sini hari ini. . — Bernama

Ada PATI jadi majikan – Hishammuddin

2011-09-21T17:52:00.000+08:00

Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) mengesahkan terdapat pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) yang mendaftar dalam Program 6P baru-baru ini, bekerja sendiri malah sesetengahnya telah menjadi majikan di negara ini.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berkata, walaupun senario tersebut telah dikesan lama berlaku, namun ia sukar ditangani disebabkan pelbagai faktor.

Antaranya, kata beliau, ia berpunca daripada isu salah guna pas dan permit kerja serta pemalsuan dokumen dan identiti warga asing.

“Hasil risikan dan pemantauan Jabatan Imigresen melalui Program 6P mendapati, terdapat PATI yang bekerja sendiri, malah sesetengahnya telah menjadi majikan.

“Agensi penguat kuasa sukar untuk mengambil tindakan terhadap mereka apabila mereka berselindung di sebalik permit kerja sama ada yang sah atau dipalsukan,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan hari ini.

Sehubungan itu, kata Hishammuddin, melalui Program 6P, kerajaan akan mempunyai maklumat yang tepat termasuk data biometrik pekerja yang membolehkan status semasa sebenar mereka dikenal pasti.

Menurutnya, inilah kepentingan pelaksanaan 6P kerana selain menangani isu berkaitan PATI yang sedia ada dalam negara, program itu juga membolehkan kerajaan mendapat data yang tepat berhubung permasalahan sebenar berkaitan warga asing.

Dalam pada itu, beliau berkata, statistik diperoleh daripada laporan proses pendaftaran Program 6P menunjukkan seramai 327,991 PATI mengisytiharkan tidak bekerja dalam lima sektor dibenarkan dalam dasar semasa kerajaan iaitu perkilangan, perladangan, pertanian, pembinaan dan 15 jenis pekerjaan dalam sektor perkhidmatan.

“Sebahagian besar daripada jumlah tersebut didapati sedang bekerja dengan majikan tertentu atau dalam jenis dan sektor pekerjaan yang tidak dibenarkan seperti perlombongan, bengkel kereta, restoran makanan segera, gerai, nelayan, pengedar surat khabar dan pencucian kenderaan.

“KDN akan memanjangkan syor kepada beberapa persatuan majikan dan majikan secara individu yang merayu supaya kerajaan memberikan kebenaran khas agar pekerja-pekerja tidak sah mereka yang sedang bekerja dalam jenis pekerjaan di luar sektor untuk turut dilibatkan dalam proses pemutihan,” ujarnya.

Pada masa sama, Hishammuddin berkata, KDN yakin akan memperoleh data dan maklumat terperinci melalui proses pemutihan fasa kedua dalam Program 6P yang tarikh pelaksanaannya akan diputuskan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kabinet Pekerja Asing dan PATI pada 4 Oktober ini.

Beliau berkata, data dan maklumat itu akan diserahkan kepada Kementerian Sumber Manusia dan agensi pusat seperti Unit Perancangan Ekonomi (EPU) serta Jabatan Perdana Menteri dalam melengkapkan kajian mereka tentang keperluan sebenar pekerja asing bagi memastikan ia bertepatan dengan keperluan semasa serta diimbangi faktor keselamatan.

There is a possibility that some of the 62,156 youths who registered themselves as illegal immigrants under the 6P amnesty programme were victims of h

2011-09-13T08:53:00.000+08:00

There is a possibility that some of the 62,156 youths who registered themselves as illegal immigrants under the 6P amnesty programme were victims of human trafficking syndicates, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said.

A thorough investigation would be carried out to determine their real status, he said.

He said an initial review of the programme indicated that some of the children and youths could be the offspring of illegal immigrants.

“So we are checking whether international human trafficking syndicates are involved.

“The numbers could be higher as the information we have is only on those who had registered voluntarily. There could be a lot more out there but we will start (the investigations) with the facts and figures that are already with us,” he told a press conference after chairing a weekly meeting with state immigration directors yesterday.

Hishammuddin said the registration, which ended on Aug 31, recorded 40,500 children under the age of 12 and 21,656 aged between 13 and 18.

Their actual status had to be determined since foreign workers were not allowed to bring along their dependents, he said.

Hishammuddin said he was also investigating several 6P agents on suspicion of hiring foreigners with a “hidden agenda”.

“Some of them (agents) have foreign shareholders or directors, whether officially or not.

“Some have people with direct links with foreigners and some had taken more money (fees) than what had been stipulated.”

The 6P programme saw 336 companies being appointed as agents to register legal and illegal foreign workers. They were not allowed to charge more than RM300 for each registration.

The programme involves the registration, legalisation, amnesty, monitoring, enforcement and deportation of illegal immigrants.

Pendatang juga punyai hak dalam tribunal pengguna

2011-09-01T11:08:00.000+08:00

Pekerja asing dan pendatang asing tanpa izin yang membayar caj pendaftaran proses pemutihan Program Penyelesaian Menyeluruh Pekerja/Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (Program 6P) mempunyai hak untuk mendapat nasihat dan menuntut semula lebihan bayaran yang terpaksa dibayar mereka, kata bekas pengerusi Tribunal Pengguna, Pretam Singh Darshan Singh.

Kerajaan menetapkan bayaran maksimum RM35 untuk pendaftaran pendatang asing tanpa izin menerusi 348 syarikat-syarikat pengurus manakala kadar caj perkhidmatan proses pemutihan maksimum adalah RM300.

"Namun, ribuan pendatang asing tanpa izin telah membayar lebih daripada caj yang ditetapkan. Mereka yang dikenakan bayaran lebih daripada apa yang sepatutnya boleh memfailkan kes di bawah Tribunal Pengguna,” katanya di sini hari ini.

Pretam berkata, undang-undang berkaitan caj pendaftaran itu tertakluk kepada salah laku, representasi palsu serta amalan tidak adil dan mereka yang melakukan kesalahan mengenai caj berlebihan kos perkhidmatan boleh dikenakan tindakan mengikut Akta Perlindungan Pengguna 1999.

"Pekerja asing yang ditipu dan terpaksa membayar kos tambahan berkenaan boleh memfailkan kes mereka,” katanya.

Pretam berkata, tribunal pengguna menyediakan satu alternatif bagi pendatang asing tanpa izin untuk menuntut kerugian yang dialami dengan lebih mudah dan cepat pada kos yang minimum. – Bernama

Bosses say no to higher levy for foreign workers

2011-08-27T15:23:00.000+08:00

The levy on foreign workers in all sectors will be increased by RM50 effective Sept 1 a move that has seen opposition from employers and even the Indonesian authorities.

The new levy for maids and agriculture workers will be RM410; plantation (RM590); production and construction (RM1,250); and service sector (RM1,850).

The new rates for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan would be RM1,010 for workers in the production and construction sectors, and RM1,490 for the service sector.

For the other sectors, the levies are the same as in the peninsula.

Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam, who announced the increase yesterday, said it was among the initiatives suggested by the foreign national management laboratory.

“The decision was made after careful consideration including taking into account that the last increase was in 2005,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said the extra RM50 levy charged would cost employers a total of RM85mil, based on the 1.7 million legal foreign workers in the country.

“We do not support the move although we support the Government's plan to reduce dependence on foreign workers,” he said.

Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) acting president Jeffrey Foo said the increase would not affect their business but employers would object.

The Indonesian Embassy, meanwhile, has threatened to increase the minimum wage for all its workers in Malaysia if the RM50 levy increase is maintained.

“The majority of Indonesian workers in the country are still paying for their own levy. No action has been taken against the employers who are supposed to be paying the levy,” said the embassy's minister counsellor for information, social and cultural affairs Suryana Sastradiredja.

“We will increase the wages effective Sept 1. Take it or leave it.”

There are about 900,000 Indonesian workers in the country.

Mahmood, in his announcement, said the existing rates would still apply for all first-time applications received by the ministry before Thursday.

“The old rates are also applicable for application for an extension of the temporary working visit passes which expire before Sept 1.

For maids, the new levy for second and subsequent domestic workers was RM590, he added.

Mahmood said the levy increase was to cover the costs incurred by the Government in implementing the biometric system for the registration of foreign workers as well as upgrading the Immigration Department's computer system.

“We had initially planned to increase the levy from June 1 but decided to postpone it as the biometric system was still new and needed to be tested first,” he said, adding that the Government had engaged with employer groups to discuss the increase.

He said almost RM200mil had been spent in the implementation of both systems as well as the new “code” placed in the passport of every foreign worker.

“It is a sticker, similar to the visa sticker, and is placed in the passport. Each one carries a unique code.”

Mahmood said all vital information about the worker could be obtained with a scan of the “code”.

On the biometric programme, Mahmood said a total of 2,248,940 foreign workers and illegal immigrants had been registered as of 8.30am yesterday.

Of this, 1,242,813 were illegals.

Foreigners staying in Malaysia must obey the law – Dompok

2011-08-23T23:34:00.000+08:00

Foreigners aspiring to call Malaysia home or those wishing to earn a living in the country are warned to get proper documentation through the correct channel.

“We are very clear that those wishing to continue living here must first get the necessary documentation of their stay. That is the law that they must obey,” stressed Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, yesterday.

He said with the current development in Malaysia, it is no doubt the country is in need of more manpower, especially foreign workers.

“But the law of the country must be obeyed by everybody. And people who come to work illegally here are subjected to a lot of things, and it is possible that without proper documentations, the illegal immigrants are abused by their employers. My advice is to go back to your countries of origin and come back with valid documents,” he told reporters after attending the 1Malaysia Ramadan celebration cum breaking of fast at the State Prison Department quarters at Kampung Matambai near here.

Responding to the recent statement by Liberal Democratic Party Youth chief Chin Shu Yin who claimed that there are some 900,000 non-Malaysians in Sabah, Dompok, who is also Penampang Member of Parliament, hoped that the figures can be verified through the recent foreigners’ registration exercises carried out nationwide.

However, Dompok described Chin’s statement that many refugees have been granted with MyKad as bad, adding that the country has laws and accepts people coming from all over the world who wish to make the country their home.

“There are people coming from different parts of the world who came here and accepted either as permanent citizens (PR) or citizens, but of course, before they can be part of us, they must apply through the normal way.

“No one should go through the back door, must go through the front door. If indeed they want to be citizens, there are necessary applications that need to be filled and sent, it is the same practice in other countries as well.

“There are a lot of people staying here, whether legal or illegal, but I believe that through the recent registration exercise, we will be able to determine the numbers that should get the proper documents.

“I would again like to reiterate my call for the setting up of the Royal Commission of Inquiry to put this matter to rest. I believe Malaysia can be quite sure that if this comes through, any immigration-related issues and foreign workers can be regularised and will meet the satisfaction of every Malaysian,” he said.

There are more of them than legal workers and it is cause for concern

2011-08-21T12:10:00.000+08:00

The biometric registration exercise for foreign workers in the country, which has been extended until Aug 31, has thrown up a surprise for the Home Ministry.

The latest figures from the exercise have shown that there are more illegals than legal foreign workers in the country.

As of Friday, 2,088,358 foreign wor-kers have registered under the exercise, over half of whom - or 1,135,499 - are illegals.

Small crowd: Foreign workers lining up for the biometric registration at the state Immigration department in Seberang Jaya yesterday.

The move to extend the deadline has come following concerns that even as the original date was coming to an end today, many of the illegals have not come forward.

Bosses say more time needed to register 3 million illegal immigrants

2011-08-15T11:56:00.000+08:00

The Government’s decision to extend the deadline to register illegal immigrants under the legalisation and amnesty exercise to Aug 21 has been welcomed.

Employers and agents said, however, the Government should consider extending the registration for another month as there were still many illegal immigrants who had not registered.

Preventor Homeland Security Sdn Bhd adviser Datuk Seri Juniur Khoosaid the extension would allow more illegal immigrants to register with the Immigration Department and the 336 Home Ministry appointed agents.

“This exercise is good. It will provide an accurate picture of the foreign workforce in the country,” he said yesterday.

He said employers should register legal and illegal foreign workers before the deadline.

Khoo said the Government must be firm in taking action against employers, companies and illegal immigrants who had failed to register during the 6P exercise.

“They must be given a deterrent sentence such as a prison term and a few strokes of the cane (rotan) if they were found to be harbouring illegal immigrants after the exercise deadline,” he said.

Yayasan Kebajikan Pekerja Asing (YKPA) director K. Jayaraman lauded the extension, saying it was a good decision as there were still many illegal immigrants who had yet to register.

“Many tend to wait until the last minute. This has been the culture in the country,” he said, adding that only a handful came yesterday following the extension.

Jayaraman said the fasting month was also a contributing factor to the poor response from illegal immigrants.

Another agent, Mohd Faris Shah said the Government should consi-der extending the registration period for another month to accommodate the unregistered illegals.

“There are about three million illegals in the country but we have only registered 885,000 so far. This exercise has to be extended,” he said.

Mohd Faris said the registration exercise was a good move and should not be stopped midway as the enforcement would be costly for the Government.

245,376 PATI Didaftar

2011-08-05T20:10:00.001+08:00

Seramai 245,376 pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) telah didaftar sehingga tengah hari hari ini sejak hari pertama pendaftaran Program Penyelesaian Menyeluruh Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (Program 6P) bermula Isnin lepas.

Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Kanan) Kementerian Dalam Negeri Datuk Alwi Ibrahim berkata dalam satu kenyataan pada Jumaat bahawa pendaftaran dibuat melalui 197 pejabat Imigresen dan 1,934 kaunter pendaftaran yang dikendalikan oleh 336 syarikat pengurus.

Berdasarkan pecahan mengikut negeri, Selangor mencatatkan bilangan pendaftaran paling tinggi dengan 79,855 orang, diikuti Kuala Lumpur (54,041), Johor (31,060), Pulau Pinang (18,278), Perak (13,358), Pahang (12,218), Putrajaya (11,641), Negeri Sembilan (9,146), Kedah (7,738), Melaka (3,981), Kelantan (1,690), Terengganu (1,557), Perlis (648) dan Labuan (255).

Mengenai aduan syarikat pengurus yang mendakwa gagal beroperasi akibat masalah teknikal, Alwi berkata kementerian mengenal pasti antara lainnya berpunca daripada komputer milik syarikat pengurus yang menggunakan sistem operasi tidak sepadan berbanding keperluan perisian yang digunakan bagi pendaftaran program itu.

Beliau meminta syarikat yang berhadapan masalah itu supaya menyelaraskan sistem operasi komputer masing-masing.

Alwi berkata bermula semalam, lebih 100 kakitangan teknologi maklumat di kementerian telah diarah turun ke lapangan untuk memantau operasi syarikat pengurus dan membantu menangani masalah teknikal, jika masih ada.

"Contohnya masalah berkaitan installation atau masalah memuat naik data," katanya.

Beliau berkata jika terdapat sebarang aduan atau masalah yang dihadapi, pihak yang berkaitan boleh menghubungi Bilik Gerakan KDN di talian 03-8886 8110/8112.- BERNAMA

127,049 illegals registered so far

2011-08-04T19:31:00.000+08:00

Some 127,049 illegal immigrants have been registered under the amnesty programme since it started on Monday.

Home Ministry deputy secretary-general (senior) Datuk Alwi Ibrahim said the registration was done by 197 immigration offices and 336 outsourced companies.

Putrajaya was highest with 5,306, followed by Selangor (4,822), Perak (4,295), Kedah (4,026), Negri Sembilan (3,021), Kuala Lumpur (2,783), Penang (2,395), Johor (2,346), Pahang (1,849), Melaka (977), Terengganu (912), Kelantan (793), Perlis (394) and Labuan (54).

"Some 733,662 legal foreign workers were recorded by immigration offices until yesterday (Wednesday) or 61% of the total 1.2 million foreign workers in the country.

"The number does not include housemaids," Alwi said in a statement here Thursday.

Sabah which started the registration on July 18, recorded 137,217 people and will continue until Monday.

Sarawak which started registration of legal foreign workers on Monday, recorded 8,311 up to Wednesday via 28 immigration offices in the state's 11 divisions. - Bernama

RM35 admin charge to register illegal foreign workers

2011-08-03T11:15:00.000+08:00

Agents appointed to register illegal foreign workers can only impose an administrative charge of RM35, not a sen more, said Home Ministry deputy secretary-general (immigration and policy) Datuk Alwi Ibrahim.

“If any agent has been found to have charged more, workers should report to the Home Ministry and appropriate action, including revoking their licences, would be taken if they are found guilty,” he told reporters here yesterday.

There are 336 agents appointed to register illegal foreign workers.

He said the registration would be done free of charge at Immigration offices nationwide.

Alwi said the 6P programme was not an “overnight decision”, but was being implemented after a year-long study that followed discussions with stakeholders including ministries, agencies, associations and unions.

Long queue: Foreign workers waiting outside an agent’s office in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday. — AZMAN GHANI / The Star

He said its sole aim was to obtain accurate figures on the number of illegals working in the country and to map out a comprehensive strategy to fill vacancies in the various sectors.

He said this was also being done as there were too many illegals in the country and there was an increase in social problems.

Alwi said the representatives of the agents had related their problems, including incorrect passwords and incompatible software, during a discussion at the ministry yesterday.

Employers: Suspend amnesty programme for illegal workers

2011-08-02T09:36:00.000+08:00

Employers and worker organisations want the Government to suspend the amnesty programme for the 1.2 million illegal workers which began yesterday.

They argued that the ongoing exercise to register legal workers using the biometric system was incomplete and riddled with problems.

“To carry out both exercises simultaneously was a massive task which the authorities were unable to handle,” Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said.

Lesson in patience: Thousands of foreign workers waiting to be processed at the KL Stadium in Cheras yesterday.

The amnesty programme was supposed to begin on July 11, but was postponed because the Home Ministry had problems in appointing agents while the machinery to register the workers was not in place.

Instead, the ministry decided to use the biometric system to register legal workers two weeks ago, and it is still in progress with no definite deadline to complete it.

Shamsuddin said the biometric system was riddled with problems that needed to be ironed out fast.

So far, only 600,000 legal workers out of the estimated 1.2million had been registered.

With so many changes made to the programme within the last month, all stakeholders — employers, workers, foreign missions and even some Immigration officers on the ground — were confused, noted Tenaganitaexecutive director Dr Irene Fernandes.

“Unless proper planning is made, the whole exercise would be a failure,” she said.

Fernandes suggested that the ministry provide clear guidelines on the amnesty programme and ensure it had the capacity to monitor the registration so that workers and employers were not cheated.

MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam urged the ministry to rope in Labour Department officials and representatives of worker organisations to help in the massive exercise.

“The exercise should not be left to private sector agents who are profit-driven,” he said, adding that the suspension of the exercise would give time for the authorities to properly plan and overcome the shortcomings it currently faced.

Malaysian Agriculture Plantation Association executive director Mohamad Audong said the biometric system had caused much inconvenience to his members because of insufficient registration centres. — Bernama

Amnesty rush hiccup

2011-08-02T09:31:00.000+08:00

Hundreds of illegal foreign workers were seen milling helplessly at the Immigration Department here on the first day of the biometric registration process under the amnesty programme.

Restaurant helper Horsiyah Sali, 32, from Indonesia, said she had waited since 7am but was informed by an agent for the amnesty programme that there were problems with the online system.

“My friends recommended that I go through an agent but I have no idea how much it would cost,” said Horsiyah.

Long wait: Thousands of illegal foreign workers waiting in vain at the KL Stadium in Cheras as the first day of the amnesty programme was bogged down by computer problems and Immigration officers who showed up late.

Another worker, Indonesian Samiya Yazi, said her employers had sent her to the Pusat Bandar Damansara Immigration Department here to be registered.

“Our employers said they would take care of the cost but I am not sure if it will be deducted from our salaries,” she said.

Those who wanted to register directly with the department were told to go to the KL football stadium in Cheras.

The situation in Cheras was much busier with at least 5,000 foreign workers from 21 countries flooding the stadium to register.

An Indonesian contract cleaner, who wanted to be known as Dee', said he arrived at 8am to register but the counters had not been set up yet.

There were separate queues for illegal and legal workers and Immigration officers were on hand to control the crowd.

THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SIGN UP IN 5P

2011-07-19T14:26:00.003+08:00

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE…the registration taking place in Sandakan yesterday

The Immigration office here is targeting to register 60,000 illegal immigrants under the 5P (Registration, Amnesty, Monitoring, Enforcement and Repatriation) programme which began yesterday until Aug 1.

Immigration Deputy Senior Assistant Director (1) Jaimin Sumpit said most of these illegal immigrants were plantation workers from surrounding areas such as Kinabatangan and Beluran.

He said the number included their wives and children who could take advantage of the 5P to avoid action and return to their country of origin voluntarily.

“There will be no charge for the registration which is being conducted in eight other districts,” he said.

The eight centres are at the Kudat, Menggatal (for Kota Kinabalu), Ranau, Keningau, Sipitang, Tawau, and Lahad Datu community halls while in Semporna the venue is Balai Seni Inabah.

Registration is from 8am until 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on Saturday and Sunday.

In Tawau, the exercise received encouraging response with 500 people having registered by 11am.

Kaslim Tasse, 47, from Palopo, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, who entered the country 27 years ago and had been employed as a legal worker at Table Estate for more than 20 years, hoped that he would be able to continue working here.

“The management treated us well,” he said, recalling that his employers were originally known as Borneo Abaca Limited (BAL), one of the oldest plantations in Tawau, which is now owned by Sime Darby.

Now married and a father of three, aged between seven and 20, he said he had never returned to his hometown since then as Tawau was a “gold mine”.

His countryman Mohd Arif Bacho, 48, who hailed from Nunukan and worked at Bombalai Estate which is also owned by Sime Darby echoed the same hope.

“I enjoy working here as my employer provided everything. I want to continue working here as long as I am required.

“I am also thankful that the Malaysian authorities have allowed me to renew my passport which expired three months ago,” he said.

An employer, Juaini Buyong 62, said that the programme is a good move by the government.

“I am at ease now that my four foreign workers in my coffeeshop have registered,” he said.

In Keningau, Keningau immigration chief Mohd Fazir Abdul Ben said the registered foreigners have two weeks to return to their home country to sort out their documents before returning to Malaysia.

“Only those who have been guaranteed by their employers will be allowed to do so,” he said.

2,000 illegals register on first day

2011-07-19T14:26:00.002+08:00

More than 2,000 illegal immigrants and foreign workers in Sabah came forward yesterday to take advantage of the amnesty programme and register themselves and their family members.

Some came to the registration counters as early as 8am while others came after the lunch hour to avoid long queues, said Sabah Immigration Department enforcement chief Abdul Khalid Hj Abdul Karim.

He said those who came to register were illegal immigrants who did not have any valid travel document when entering the country, who overstayed, who violated their passes and those who got their passports from their country’s consulate.

“Once they are registered, they are required to go back to their respective countries to get the proper documents and passports from their consulates before they are allowed to re-enter Malaysia,” he said when met at the Tun Fuad Stephen community hall here yesterday.

According to Abdul Khalid, under the two-week amnesty programme from yesterday until Aug 1, there is no cooling off period for illegal immigrants, meaning they must register themselves and their dependents and leave the country within the period.

“After the 14 days is up, we will carry out operations to track them down and if they are caught without proper documents, we will detain them,” he said.

It is estimated that 500,000 illegal immigrants will turn up by Aug 1 to register themselves and return to their countries to obtain valid travel documents.

The programme is conducted at nine locations statewide, namely Tun Fuad Stephen community hall in Penampang, Tun Mustapha community hall in Kudat, Ranau community hall, Sibuga community hall in Sandakan, Sipitang community hall, Sri Tawau community hall, Sri Indah community hall in Semporna, Keningau community hall and Perdana community hall in Lahad Datu.

The counters are open from 8am to 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on weekends, and the registration forms can be obtained from the counters free of charge.

The programme consists of ‘5Ps’, namely Pendaftaran (Registration), Pengampunan (Amnesty), Pemantauan (Monitoring), Penguatkuasaan (Enforcement) and Pengusiran (Expulsion).

Harris jumped the gun on illegal immigrants decision: UPKO

2011-07-19T14:22:00.000+08:00

It is premature for former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh to preempt on the Federal Cabinet decision on whether to establish or not a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to Investigate the existence of Illegal Immigrants holding dubious identity cards obtained by way of “Project IC”, said United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO).

In responding to Harris’ statement published on Sunday on the said matter, Upko secretary general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau explained that this was because the Federal Cabinet has not deliberated on the requests by various parties on the RCI.

He added that although the Home Minister has made his opinion known on the matter to the media but the fact remains that Federal Cabinet has not deliberated on it.

“Given a proper perspective to this particular ‘national problem’, we are confident that many fellow BN component party leaders will seriously consider giving positive support to this proposal.

“This matter is no longer a mere issue for a public debate, rather this is a matter of public interest affecting sovereignty that merit resolutions at the highest level,” said Tangau in a statement yesterday.

He also disagreed with Harris for saying that the views written by Paul Raffaele in the book “Harris Salleh of Sabah” were the opinions and version of the writer.

“Clearly, the views belong to Harris and Paul the writer was simply writing what he recorded from statements made by Harris himself,” he said.

He cited for example, on Para 1, page 426 of the book, Harris made the following statement:

“Already in Kudat, a PBS area now, over 3,000 Filipinos have their IC s, and, when they are registered to vote, the assembly seat there will be USNO’s for the rest of this century at least. The same pattern could be repeated all over Sabah so that the Kadazans become a small minority….”

“This statement is not refuted and certainly it is not an opinion or a version of the writer but a statement of Harris himself,” he contended.

“Now 26 years later after he made that statement, Harris now estimated that 90 per cent of the people of Sabah are migrants!

“Is he saying that whatever he has said pertaining to the making of illegal migrants into a citizen in the book was truly carried out? Is that the reason why the population rate of growth of Sabah is more than 500 per cent?” he asked.

Tangau also fully agreed with Dr. Chong Eng Leong’s statement that Harris must clear his name for being implicated in the book by MD Mutalib “IC Projek – Agenda Tersembunyi Mahathir”.

“Upko welcome Harris’ readiness to testify in the yet to be established RCI,” he added.

He further stressed that it is of paramount importance for all quarters to accept and understand that only a RCI could provide a lasting solution to the “Mother of all Problems” in Sabah – the existence of thousands and thousands of illegal migrants with dubious IC.

He thus on behalf of Upko declined Harris’s suggestion for the party to conduct its own inquiry concerning ICs, stressing that RCIremains the most effective way of resolving this matter once and for all.

“We are all for a common view on pertinent issues especially amongst component parties of the BN. There are ways and means to achieve this including having a loose confederation as suggested by PBS secretary general Datuk Henrynus Amin and Upko welcome this idea. We should immediately work on the mechanism,” he said.

Majikan, PATI diminta tidak tunggu saat akhir daftar diri

2011-07-19T14:21:00.001+08:00

Jabatan Imigresen Sabah meminta majikan supaya tidak menunggu saat-saat akhir untuk mendaftar pekerja pendatang tanpa izin (PATI) mereka bagi mengelak sebarang masalah termasuk kesesakan di kaunter.

Pengarahnya Mohammad Mentek berkata majikan dan PATI perlu mengambil kesempatan sepanjang tempoh dua minggu proses pendaftaran di sembilan buah pusat pendaftaran kerana dalam tempoh berkenaan mereka tidak akan dikenakan sebarang tindakan.

"Sekali lagi saya nak tekankan di sini supaya yang termasuk dalam kategori mesti mendaftar sahaja yang datang mendaftar. Pemegang dokumen IMM13 dan Kad Banci Pasukan Petugas Khas Persekutuan Sabah dan Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan tidak perlu datang mendaftar.

"Mereka yang memegang Sijil Penempatan Sementara daripada Jabatan Ketua Menteri atau di sini dipanggil ''kad burung-burung'' dan kad pengenalan hijau, kecuali yang sudah tamat tempoh, juga tidak perlu datang mendaftar," katanya.

Mohammad berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas meninjau perjalanan proses pendaftaran PATI di Dewan Masyarakat Tawau di sini hari ini. Tempoh pendaftaran berkenaan akan berakhir pada 1 Ogos.

APMM gagalkan cubaan seludup PATI

2011-07-18T23:15:00.000+08:00

Niat Tekong bot membawa lapan PATI untuk balik berhari raya musnah setelah bot yang mereka naiki berjaya di pintas Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia Wilayah Selatan berhampiran Jeti Tanjung Kupang, Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas awal pagi ini.

Ketua Penguat Kuasa Wilayah Maritim Selatan, Laksamana Pertama Maritim Zulkifili
Abu Bakar berkata, dalam kejadian jam 4.40 pagi tadi semasa bot Kilat 12

melakukan rondaan telah mengesan sebuah kayu yang dalam keadaan mencurigakan .

“Ketika dihampiri, bot tersebut terus memecut laju mengelak dari ditahan pihak

APMM namun usaha tekong bot membawa lapan PATI tersebut gagal setelah bot APMM
berjaya memintas dan menahan mereka jam 4.45 pagi berhampiran Jeti Tanjung Kupang.

Hasil pemeriksaan, katanya, tekong dan seorang pembantunya serta lapan PATI
termasuk dua wanita dan salah seorang mengandung tujuh bulan berusia antara 19
hingga 46 tahun berjaya ditahan,” katanya di sini.

Zulkifili berkata, pemeriksaan lanjut mendapati kesemua mereka tidak memiliki
dokumen pengenalan diri yang sah dan mereka juga dikenakan bayaran RM450 seorang
bagi membawa mereka keluar dari negeri ini untuk ke Tanjung Balai, Indonesia.

Sindiket palsu daftar PATI bawah Program 6P dikesan

2011-07-16T11:20:00.000+08:00

Syarikat yang tidak dilantik oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) bagi menguruskan pendaftaran dalam Program Penyelesaian Menyeluruh Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin atau Program 6P kini dilaporkan cuba mengaut keuntungan daripada pendatang asing terbabit.

Sindiket berkenaan dikatakan membuat tawaran palsu kepada PATI kononnya mereka boleh menguruskan pendaftaran berkenaan, selain menjanjikan peluang pekerjaan di negara ini dengan gaji yang lebih lumayan.

Sumber Jabatan Imigresen negeri memberitahu, pihaknya sedang memantau penipuan ini melalui kain rentang yang digantung di beberapa lokasi di negeri ini.

"Sindiket ini dikesan menawarkan perkara yang tidak wujud melalui Program 6P ini," kata sumber itu kepada Utusan Malaysia hari ini.

Program 6P ditangguhkan sementara bagi pelaksanaan Program Pendaftaran Biometrik Pekerja Asing sebelum ia dimulakan pada 1 Ogos depan.

Program Pendaftaran Biometrik Pekerja Asing dilaksanakan dahulu bagi menangani isu berhubung tindakan pekerja asing sah yang merancang melarikan diri daripada majikan asal untuk menyertai Program 6P.

Menurut sumber itu, sindiket ini cuba memancing pekerja sah dan tidak sah di kilang berskala kecil atau mana-mana sektor perkhidmatan kononnya mereka merupakan wakil yang telah dilantik oleh KDN untuk tujuan berkenaan.

"Lebih malang, sindiket ini memujuk pekerja kilang yang sah supaya membuang pasport mereka, melarikan diri dan didaftarkan di bawah Program 6P," katanya.

Difahamkan, sindiket ini menawarkan perkhidmatan sehingga RM500 ke RM1,500 untuk mendaftar seorang PATI.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Imigresen negeri, Faizal Fazri Othman ketika ditemui hari ini mengesahkan wujudnya syarikat yang tidak bertanggungjawab itu dan pihaknya kini memantau perkembangan itu dengan serius.

Registration of illegals nationwide put off for now

2011-07-12T09:53:00.000+08:00

The registration of illegal foreign workers nationwide ahead of an amnesty exercise has been shelved indefinitely until all parties are ready for it, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

“We have decided to postpone the registration of illegal workers under the biometric system until further notice.

“There are several technical issues and national security matters that we have to sort out first,” he told reporters yesterday.

Hishammuddin said the exercise would be held only after all parties were sure that the process could be carried out without any glitch.

He cited the example of the introduction of the biometric system at 67 immigration entry points nationwide recently when minor glitches marred the whole exercise.

“The process went on smoothly except for two entry points between Malaysia and Singapore. We learnt that one or two glitches can affect the entire process,” he said.

Hishammuddin did not fix a time frame on when the amnesty would be implemented.

The exercise, aimed at encouraging an estimated two million illegal workers to register by being fingerprinted via a biometric system, was supposed to have started yesterday.

It was meant to grant them amnesty so that they could work legally or leave the country without being caught and jailed.

Pendatang tanpa izin cuba keluar

2011-06-23T18:52:00.000+08:00

Polis Gerakan Marin Wilayah Dua menggagalkan dua cubaan membawa keluar 75 pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) Indonesia dalam dua operasi berasingan di Kota Tinggi.

Komandernya ACP Zainul Abidin Hassan berkata, 40 PTI ditangkap di kawasan hutan Bukit Raja Darat, Sungai Rengit pada 12.15 tengah malam tadi manakala 35 lagi ditangkap di Pantai Pasir Gogok pada 3.30 pagi tadi.

"Hasil pemeriksaan terhadap PATI yang ditangkap di dalam operasi pertama mendapati kesemua 40 orang daripada mereka, 36 lelaki dan empat wanita tidak mempunyai dokumen perjalanan sah dan mengaku sedang dalam perjalanan ke Indonesia.

"Dalam operasi kedua pula, 35 PATI dengan 29 daripada mereka lelaki dan selebihnya wanita yang menaiki sebuah bot pancung telah ditangkap selepas dikejar dengan bot peronda," katanya dalam satu kenyatan hari ini.

Beliau berkata dalam kejadian itu bot pancung tersebut telah menghimpit bot peronda polis marin dan menyebabkan pelanggaran, mengakibatkan seorang PATI mengalami kecederaan di bahagian tangan. - Bernama

Program pemutihan akan atasi sebahagian isu PATI Sabah

2011-06-12T19:38:00.001+08:00

Kementerian Dalam Negeri akan bekerjasama dengan kerajaan Sabah bagi membangunkan sistem berteknologi tinggi untuk melaksanakan operasi pemutihan besar-besaran pendatang tanpa izin di Sabah.

Menterinya Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berkata apabila diwujudkan kelak, sistem itu diyakini dapat menyelesaikan sebahagian besar isu pendatang tanpa izin di negeri tersebut.

"Dunia tanpa sempadan membawa cabaran tersendiri. Kalau kita tidak berusaha sungguh-sungguh menggunakan sistem dan teknologi sedia ada saya bimbang masa depan kita boleh berada dalam keadaan tidak tentu dari segi keselamatannya," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Persidangan Perwakilan Umno Libaran, di sini hari ini.

Beliau memberi contoh pelaksanaan sistem biometrik yang memastikan setiap warga asing memasuki negara ini direkod menerusi imbasan cap jari.

"Kita belajar dari pengalaman dahulu dan mungkin kali ini bila kita lakukan operasi pemutihan besar-besar tanpa menjejaskan keperluan sektor ekonomi yang diperlukan oleh Sabah," katanya.

Amnesty scam

2011-06-07T10:44:00.000+08:00

Several companies claiming to represent the Home Ministry are under probe by the ministry for collecting money to legalise illegal immigrants.

It is learnt that some of the companies were collecting about RM800 per illegal immigrant under the Government's 6P programme which is a large scale legalisation and amnesty exercise to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in Malaysia, estimated at about two million.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the unscrupulous companies are being blacklisted as the ministry had not authorised any company or agent to collect money under the programme.

“The police and the Special Branch are already hot on the heels of the errant companies,'' he told The Star.

“I know it is happening. We will not tolerate this. If they collect money up front, out they go.

“We are blacklisting the errant companies, no matter how good or capable they are,'' he said.

The 6P programme which is aimed at registering, legalising, pardoning, monitoring, enforcing and deporting illegal immigrants, is expected to be finalised by the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Illegal Workers which is scheduled to meet soon.

On Monday, The Star which reported on the amnesty exercise, had said that under the programme, illegal immigrants could return to their country without being prosecuted. They, however, must first have their thumbprints recorded and stored in the Immigration Department database.

Hishammuddin said the ministry was in the process of screening several agencies interested in participating in the programme to help register illegal workers.

“We are starting with the biometric system, as we can use thumbprints to register illegal immigrants. We can track their movement, like the duration of stay in the country.

“We can also use the system to track those who returned to the country under a different name after deportation,'' he said, adding that documents could be forged, but not fingerprints.

He said the programme that was mooted 18 months ago would be implemented in a month's time.

“We are venturing into a new territory, that require much efforts from the right agencies in the right working environment,” he said, adding that other countries could emulate the Malaysian model to check human trafficking and other transborder crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking, arms smuggling and terrorism.

“We can have all the basic information that can be shared by any agencies. We can share the information among other countries, and not only with Interpol,'' he said.

Comprehensive exercise soon to legalise and send illegal immigrants home

2011-06-06T22:42:00.000+08:00

A large-scale legalisation and amnesty exercise is expected to be held next month to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in Malaysia, estimated at about two million.

The programme, which will take three weeks, will be codenamed “6P”pendaftaran (registration), pemutihan (legalisation), pengampunan(amnesty), pemantauan (supervision), penguatkuasaan (enforcement) and pengusiran (deportation).

This is the most comprehensive programme ever introduced by the Home Ministry to cut down the number of illegal immigrants.

Previously, such moves were limited to repatriation exercises. Amnesty programmes have been held several times, the most recent being last year.

A senior official from the ministry said the immigrants would have three weeks to take up the offer or face the law if they are arrested without valid travel documents or work permits.

Muktamar Tahunan PAS: Gesa Siasatan Diraja Siasat Kad Pengenalan Palsu

2011-06-05T14:10:00.000+08:00

PAS menggesa Pakatan Rakyat mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) bagi menggantung pengeluaran kad pengenalan kepada warga asing, yang dikaitkan pembangkang sebagai komplot pihak tertentu menjelang pilihan raya umum ke-13.

Perkara tersebut terkandung dalam usul berkaitan pemalsuan kad pengenalan yang diterima tanpa bahas oleh perwakilan PAS pusat pada hari terakhir Muktamar Tahunan PAS ke-57 pada Ahad.

Usul itu mendakwa sejak dua tahun kebelakangan ini telah berlangsung projek sulit mengeluarkan kad-kad pengenalan terutama kepada warga asing dengan tujuan untuk mendaftarkan pengundi warga asing.

Usul tersebut dibentangkan oleh wakil Dewan Pemuda, Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil berkata perkara tersebut perlu diberi perhatian serius oleh kepimpinan PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat. “Bagi membanteras perkara ini kita desak supaya satu Suruhanjaya Diraja Siasatan bagi menyiasat dakwaan pemberian kad pengenalan kepada warga asing untuk didaftarkan sebagai pengundi pada pilihan raya umum. “Kita juga desak supaya JPN mendedahkan secara terperinci statistik jumlah taraf kewarganegaraan dan kad pengenalan yang telah dikeluarkan kepada warga asing dan penduduk tetap terutamanya sejak 10 tahun kebelakangan ini mengikut negeri,” katanya ketika membentangkan usul tersebut pada hari terakhir muktamar di sini, Ahad.

Usul tersebut turut menggesa jentera PAS serta Pakatan Rakyat di setiap negeri dan kawasan memantau secara rapi pergerakan komplot mengeluarkan kad pengenalan dan membuat tangkapan awam terhadap mereka jika didapati berlaku.

Little doubt that Akjan is an illegal: Wences

2011-05-28T09:33:00.001+08:00

Former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Wences Angang on Thursday said the dubious citizenship status of former ISA detainee Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad is a mockery to the political party that accepted him into its fold.

Expressing full support to the statement by Upko Deputy President, Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, he Akjan's claim to be a descendant of the "Sultan of Sulu" is proof that Akjan was not born in Sabah.

He said it is very clear that Akjan is an illegal immigrant.

"His status should not only be subjected to investigation but all those involved in giving him his citizenship and MyKad that allow him to hold important posts in this country, including being a member of a political party.

"This has put a mockery on the political party that accepted him in the first place," he said in a statement.

In this respect, he said the call by Bumburing to the Government and Home Minister, in particular, to immediately expel Akjan should be applied.

He said Sabah political leaders that have been voicing on the issue previously should stand up and walk the talk now.

He said if the Barisan Nasional (BN) government hoped to get the people to listen to them and support the 1Malaysia concept, it should reciprocate by listening to the people on the most pertinent issues affecting every aspect of life of Malaysians in Sabah be it social, culture and economy.

Many Federal level leaders, he said, only preached about the 1Malaysia concept and expound the "fixed deposit" tag given to Sabah when they come here.

He suggested that the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin bring with him a package to address issues of illegal immigrants, dubious issuance of MyKad to foreigners and also legal option on Akjan during his next visit to Sabah.

"This is to show that Federal leaders are sensitive to the problems faced by Malaysians in Sabah," he said.

On the call by Bumburing for the Government to revoke and nullify all citizenship and MyKads granted and issued to non-deserving foreigners, he said it is a sincere and noble call that represents the voice of all genuine Malaysian citizens in Sabah.

"We fully support the struggle by Bumburing despite the existence of certain quarters who are unhappy that this issue is being brought up unendingly by Upko MPs in parliament," he said.

P'pines not being good neighbour on consulate plan: Dompok

2011-05-09T15:06:00.000+08:00

United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun and Murut Organisation (Upko) on Saturday said the Philippines should respect the sovereignty of Malaysia and Sabah as part of this country.

Its President, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, said this in response to the Philippines proposal to set up its Consulate Office in Lawas, Sarawak, instead of in Sabah, in view of the Sabah claim, which it had not officially dropped.

"Although this has not been brought up for discussion yet, I think it is an idea that is against the concept of being good neighbours, in respecting the sovereignty of this country," he said, when asked to comment on the proposal by Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman recently.

"The Philippines Government need to be sincere to us. I think the people of Sabah have told them (Philippines) that we are part of Malaysia and they have to recognise that, as part and parcel of being a neighbourÉdo not move around and put up a Consulate Office in an unlikely place," said Dompok, who is also Penampang MP.

Anifah said he had explained to the Philippines Government that by doing so will not bring any benefit or solution to the existing problem.

"It (setting up the consulate office in Lawas) does not serve the purpose.

Because even we, Malaysians in Sabah, when we go to Sarawak we have to produce a passport. Apatah lagi (what more) for those Philippine nationals who are without a travelling document...so it does not solve the problem," Anifah had said.

On the 'Sultan of Sulu' Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad who seems to have disappeared, Dompok said he was curious as to where he is at present moment.

"I have brought the matter up to the Cabinet on what he had done and I talked about him. I am also surprised that everything is quiet now, and we do not hear about him," he said.

State Police Commissioner Datuk Hamzah Taib on Friday said police are still looking for Akjan, who is also a former ISA detainee to complete their investigations on his (Akjan) "coronation".

ON Sabah DAP's call to Upko to evaluate its position in the Barisan Nasional (BN) and consider joining the opposition as it seems to be not supported by its other colleagues in the BN coalition on the illegal immigrant issues/problems in Sabah, Dompok said; "Well the Government actually has not written it (the 100-page memorandum) off. It is still on the agenda. I brought it up during the meeting, even during our last Cabinet meeting, it is still in the agenda and I will continue on pursuing it."

"Of course there are issues that we take up more stronger than perhaps by our other component parties in the BN. We are speaking with our neck out as a member of the coalition because we believe in it," he said.

And I think there is room in BN for divergent views on whatever matter, he said.

Therefore the argument that this Royal Commission of Inquiry (on the illegal immigration issues in Sabah as proposed through the memorandum) as yet to be decided should not be made a reason for us to change track, because this is just one matter, said Dompok.

"Things come in a package and as you know there are things which we cannot do fast enough and there are things which we do faster."

He said this is the same like in any other country, where there is room for a divergent of views.

He cited the government in the United Kingdom, the Conservatives Party and Liberal Democrats which have gone into a pact but also have such difference of views.

"Like now they are debating on the alternative votes, where the Liberal Democrats going for proportional representation and the Conservatives are speaking out for the present first-past-the-post system, which means they do not want any change. Both sides are actually very vocal about this but the coalition is there still. So there is a lot of rooms for us to have a divergence of views," he said.

Immigration power already in hands of state – Jeffrey

2011-05-08T09:37:00.000+08:00

Sabah has already possessed the power over immigration matters and all the state needs to do is to exercise that power to solve the illegal immigrants problem.

Chairman of the United Borneo Front (UBF), Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, said in statement here that he fully concurred with the statements made by the secretary general of PBS, Datuk Henrynus Amin, with the exception, that there was no necessity to ask Putrajaya to hand over the immigration power to Sabah.

“This is because the state already has the full and unquestionable power to arrest illegals and to deport them without referring to the Federal Government,” he said.

“The state’s power over immigration was never surrendered to the Federal Government. All the state Government needs to do is to exercise this power and solve our immigration problems.”

“We still have the power to deny entry to non-Sabahans into the state in the same way Lim Kit Siang was denied entry during the Berjaya era,” he added.

Jeffrey said, the current status of power on immigration is that the Immigration Department should be reporting to Datuk Seri Musa Aman, the Chief Minister.

“The Chief Minister can direct the Sabah Commissioner of Police to act the same way the district officer can direct the district police chief to act,” Jeffrey pointed out.

“Let’s not forget that as Chief Minister, Musa is also chairman of the state security committee which is a unit under the State’s Internal Affairs,” he said.

“This committee is tasked with the monitoring, co-ordinating and acting on security matters in Sabah .”

He reiterated that all the State needed to do now was to start the ball rolling towards an urgent action to solve our own security problem without depending too much on the Federal Government to give the go ahead.

“If the state BN is really serious about retaining Sabah as its fixed deposit, it would act on this matter for its owngood as well. It cannot keep being shy of carrying out its duties and responsibilities and think it needed Putrajaya approval all the time,” Jeffrey said

He urged PBS and Upko to engage the state government into sitting down to resolve the matter and activate the all-important committee.

“I wonder if the committee has been active or has met to discuss security and immigration matters,” Jeffrey asked.

“PBS and Upko which have been very vocal on the issue of illegal immigrants should bring up this matter in the cabinet to make a resolution to assert their authority to deal with the Federal Government as soon as possible.”

Maximum RM10,000 fine for local who possessed 11 foreign passports

2011-05-06T13:32:00.000+08:00

The Special Court for immigration offences here imposed a maximum fine of RM10,000 on a local man, in default six months’ jail, for illegally possessing 11 foreign passports.

Senior magistrate Amir Shah Amir Hassan meted out the fine on Ling Teck Chuang, 47, after the latter pleaded guilty to possessing 11 Philippines passports without permission in front of Restauran Muhamadiah in Beverly Hills, Jalan Bundusan, Penampang at 9am on March 16, this year.

Ling was charged under Section 12 (1) (f) of the Passport Act 1966 which carries a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both, on conviction.

The facts of the case stated that police arrested Ling at the scene following the discovery of the item in his bag.

In another case, Robita Robin, 31, was jailed for three months after she pleaded guilty to entering the state illegally.

She was arrested at a shop on the ground floor of the Asia City complex here on March 19, this year.

Robita was charged under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 which carries a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years and is liable to whipping on conviction.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Effizah Ernie Idris tendered Robita’s medical report from Mesra Hospital, Bukit Padang which showed that she was fit to take a plea.

Meanwhile, in the Magistrate’s Court, Robita was sentenced to two months in jail for stealing a scarf and a T-shirt belonging to one Asda Shahrir at a premises in Asia City here on March 29, about 10pm.

Robita pleaded guilty before magistrate Norhamizah Shaiffuddin to a charge under Section 380 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of up to 10 years and is liable to a fine on conviction.

Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Ismail Mohamad Razali prosecuted.

Foreigner jailed for having someone’s MyKad

2011-05-06T13:31:00.000+08:00

SANDAKAN: The Magistrate’s Court here yesterday jailed a 30-year-old foreigner for possessing someone else’s MyKad.

Noraimah Seddala Sarahento pleaded guilty before magistrate Mohd Izuddin Mohd Shukri to a charge under Rule 25 (1)(o) of the National Registration Rule 1990.

The accused was arrested at the arrival hall of Sandakan Airport on April 28 after arriving from Kuala Lumpur.

Immigration personnel detained her after being suspected of possessing a MyKad belonging to another person.

Investigation revealed that the accused was given a Mykad with someone else’s name on it after she had paid RM150 to an unknown man.

She then bought a ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan using the MyKad as she was desperate to return to her country of origin.

The National Registration Department verified the MyKad and found that it was not the accused’s MyKad.

19 illegals arrested

2011-05-06T13:30:00.001+08:00

Nineteen illegal immigrants were arrested by the police in an operation in collaboration with the Civil Defence Department here on Wednesday.

District police chief superintendent Shamsudin Mat said the two-hour operation was carried out in Lahad Datu town area and Kampung Panji.

The team was led by Inspector Roney Saimey Bin Sakah which comprised 25 police and 10 Civil Defence Department personnel.

Nineteen people aged between 15 and 45 were detained in the operation after failing to produce valid documents, said Shamsudin.

He added the case would be referred to the Immigration Department for further action.

Police looking for ‘Sultan of Sulu’

2011-05-06T13:28:00.000+08:00

Khalid accompanied by Hamza and Omar (right) being greeted by guests

KOTA KINABALU: Police are still unable to locate Sabah Islamic Welfare and Sermon Organisation of Malaysia chairman, Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad, who had allegedly declared himself the sultan of Sulu in early February this year.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said police are actively searching for Akjan to take down his statement to complete their investigation.

“Investigation is still ongoing as police have not taken down any statement from the so-called ‘sultan of Sulu’.

“There are statements which are required by the police before the investigation papers are submitted to the police headquarters in Bukit Aman,” he said at a press conference after the launching of the annual gathering of police administrative civilian staff union in conjunction with Police Day at the Federal Administration complex here yesterday.

The event was launched by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar.

Also present were Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim, Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman and Federal Secretary Datuk Mohammad Hatta Ab. Aziz.

According to Hamza, based on intelligence, Ajkan is neither in Sabah nor in Kuala Lumpur.

Declining further comment, Hamza merely said that police have not ruled out the possibility that Akjan has already left the country.

“To say that he has disappeared is not right. We tried to track him down from his last address but he is nowhere to be found,” he said, adding that police, through Interpol, are working closely with their foreign counterparts within the Asian countries to locate Akjan.

It had been widely reported in the media that Akjan had declared and self-installed himself as the 33rd sultan of Sulu on Feb 2, when he took the oath of allegience in a private ceremony at Kampung Likas here.

It was also reported that the ceremony was witnessed by a group of 60 people including senior officials of the so-called Sulu sultanate.

Following the installation, Akjan was declared Paduka Maulana Al-Sultan Sharif Ali Muhammad Pulalun or SultanHashim Shariful-II.

The unilateral proclamation by Akjan as ‘sultan’ had provoked storms of disapproval by certain parties urging the Government to immediately carry out an investigation.

The majority of Sabahans were worried that Akjan’s action to declare himself on Malaysian soil as sultan of Sulu would have serious security implications to the state and country.

Some viewed Akjan’s self-styled coronation in Sabah as a challenge to the state and an insult to the King and the Head of State.

However, 20 days after the alleged coronation, Akjan, in a statement, denied that he had crowned himself the ‘sultan of Sulu’ but claimed that the ceremony was actually a thanksgiving ceremony after he agreed to accept the offer from the self-styled Sulu interim government to be the 33rd ruler of the sultanate that had been abolished by The Philippines government.

Akjan who claimed to have been born at Kampung Limau-Limauan in Kudat and therefore a Sabahan, had also resigned as Umno member.

Malaysia starts fingerprinting visitors

2011-05-06T13:26:00.000+08:00

Malaysia has begun taking fingerprints from foreigners entering the country in a bid to prevent illegal immigrants coming in using fake papers, an official told AFP.

Up to two million people - mostly from neighbouring Indonesia and Myanmar - work in Malaysia illegally, authorities say.

Those arrested for working illegally or overstaying are deported but many try to return.

A pilot system, implemented at several entry points like the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) since late last month, requires visitors to give prints of both index fingers, immigration spokesman Abdul Haidir Mohamad Sukor said.

He said the biometric system was expected to be implemented nationwide from June 1.

Malaysia has one of Asia's largest populations of foreign workers. Some 1.8 million people, mostly from poorer regional countries, work in such sectors as construction, plantations, manufacturing and hospitality.

The new scheme will help authorities keep better track of foreigners, said Abdul Haidir, with those caught overstaying or committing any other offences now unable to re-enter Malaysia under different identities.

"Starting from June 1, all foreigners must give their data," Abdul Haidir told AFP. "We collect all the data to ensure we can detect problems earlier, if they have committed any offence before." "Before this in Malaysia, the overstayers are just sent back but they can come back with fake passports. With the biometric system, they cannot lie,' he said.

Source: The Straits Times/ANN

ISU PEGAWAI KERAJAAN "PTI"

2011-04-26T11:37:00.002+08:00

Saya menerima 1 email dari saudara kita yang perihatin akan permasalahan isu PTI ini, cubalah baca kiriman email beliau.

"Salam Saudara Firdaus. Saudara tau tak proses nak buat aduan tentang pegawai kerajaan (PPPS DG44) yang masih menggunakan IC lama (H) dan tak dapat di tukar ke mykad disebabkan IC tu tidak sah. Untuk pengetahuan saudara, ditempat saya bertugas sekarang ni ada seorang pegawai PPPS DG44 yang besar kepala tapi tak sedar diri yang dia tu pemegang IC projek (tidak sah). Memang tak sedar diri yang dia tu sebenarnya PATI tapi berlagak macam warganegara."

Isu sebegini memang sukar untuk diselesaikan memandang si "Anu" itu adalah seorang pegawai kerajaan. Kita nak mengadu kepada pihak berkuasa pun, tentu saja mereka akan menutup "telinga & mulut" mereka.

Begini, saudara boleh mengadu kepada badan2 NGO atau individu yang masih mempunyai kesedaran tinggi tentang isu sebegini. Contohnya Saudara Mutalib M.D yang mengendalikan Laman Sesawang Sabahkini.net dan juga Encik Mazidul Akmal Sidik yang mengendalikan Rancangan "999". Mereka ni mempunyai pengaruh dan mendapat tempat di hati masyarakat kita, tentu saja mereka mampu untuk menyampaikan permasalahan kita ini secara lebih terbuka dan telus. Kematangan dan keberanian mereka dalam isu PTI ini memang sangat dipuji oleh masyarakat khususnya. Input yang saudara boleh berikan kepada mereka terutamanya Saudara Mutalib M.D sangat berguna untuk mereka.

Saya juga pernah mengalami permasalahan yang sama dan telah banyak cara saya buat untuk utarakan mengenainya kepada pihak berkuasa namun sehingga kini jawapan yang diterima masih kabur-kabur. Tetapi janganlah saudara berputus asa kerana masih ramai sahabat-sahabat di luar sana yang peka dan perihatin kepada pemasalahan Isu Nasional PTI ini.

Muhad Firdaus Abd

105 escape from detention depot, 25 nabbed

2011-04-06T09:40:00.001+08:00

Police have rounded up 25 of the 105 detainees who escaped from the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for illegals near here on Monday night.

The hunt is on for 80 others who are believed to have escaped to the nearby jungle or oil palm estate.

In the 9.45pm incident, the detainees, the majority of whom are Myanmar nationals, escaped after rioting and setting fire to the upper floor of their detention block.

Short-lived freedom: Some of the runaways who were caught waiting to be transferred to other detention centres at the Lenggeng Immigration Deport near Seremban Tuesday.

State deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Abdul Manan Mohd Hassan said 200 personnel from the police field force, air and canine units, Immigration Department and Rela members were involved in the manhunt to track down the runaways.

“We have set up roadblocks in the surrounding areas and at exits leading to Seremban and Semenyih while our air and canine units scour the surrounding areas.

“As at noon today (yesterday), we have rounded up 25 detainees who were found not far from the camp. We are confident all the escapees will be found by Wednesday evening,” he told a press conference at the centre yesterday.

SAC Abdul Manan said 85 of the escapees were Myanmar nationals while the rest were from Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam and Indonesia.

He said the illegals who had been detained at the camp for between three months and a year claimed that they were unhappy with the conditions at their detention block which was overcrowded.

Escape route: The fence which was damaged when 105 detainees made their escape on Monday night.

“The public, especially those living in the area near the camp, are advised to contact the nearest police station if they notice strangers hanging around,” he added.

It is believed that 348 detainees were confined in the detention block which was supposed to house 250 people. No one was injured in the incident.

SAC Abd Manan said as the two-storey block was damaged in the blaze, some of the detainees would now be moved to other detention centres.

There are a total of 925 detainees in the depot, including 192 females.

Meanwhile, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adamsaid a committee comprising the Immigration Detention Centres Department, Prisons Department, Rela and the Civil Defence Department and police had been formed to investigate the breakout.

Immigration Detention Centres director-general Datuk Azri Yusof said none of its officers was injured.

“They could not stop the detainees from running away as there were too many of them,” he said.

He said the department was in the process of upgrading the centre when the incident happened.

PKR asked to clarify policy on illegals

2011-03-16T17:26:00.000+08:00

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is seeking clarification from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on its policy that illegal immigrants will be given permanent residency (PR) status in the event Pakatan Rakyat forms the government.

“Illegals are illegals and as such, action should be taken to curb illegal immigration. If illegals are to be granted PR status, then even more illegals will be attracted to Sabah, adding to the woes of Sabah,” SAPP Youth chief Edward Dagul said yesterday.

He was commenting on the announcement by PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail during the PKR Sabah convention and launching of Buku Jingga Sabah (Sabah Orange Book) here recently.

Wan Azizah was quoted as saying by the media that PKR was serious to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to overcome the illegal immigrants issue by offering permanent resident status without any right to vote.

Sabah DAP meanwhile described the PKR leadership’s statement as absurd.

Its assistant secretary, Junz Wong, said however that the party was all for the setting up of RCI and, therefore, urged elected Barisan Nasional (BN) representatives to table a motion to this effect in the current parliamentary session.

Junz, who is also Sabah DAP KK Youth chief, said Pakatan Rakyat’s 100-day promise had spelled out the coalition’s action plan to resolve the illegal immigrant problem when it assumes power in Putrajaya.

Mobile IC, birth cert services a big draw

2011-02-26T13:02:00.000+08:00

KENINGAU: About 1,000 people turned out yesterday to apply for identity card and birth certificate, and to register as voters when the relevant government agencies conducted mobile services in Kampong Merampong Apin-Apin here.

The crowd at the mobile service centre.

The mobile services, which involved the National Registration Department, Election Commission, Immigration Department, Native Court and State Islamic Affairs Department (Jheains), were monitored by District Chief, Native Chief, Native Chief representatives and headmen from Bingkor, Apin-Apin, Liawan, Sook and Nabawan.

The community leaders’ task was to ensure the people who registered for the documents and voting right are genuine locals living in the areas they represent.

Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Justin Guka, who witnessed the provision of the mobile services, expressed surprise at the response, saying it shows that many people in the district still do not have identity documents and have not registered as voters.

Justin, who is also Upko Keningau chief, said the organizing committee of the programme had made it compulsory for all community leaders to verify the application forms submitted to the government agencies.

He said this was to ensure no outsiders took the opportunity to apply for the documents and register as voters.

“I would like to thank all the departments and their staff involved in handling the services,” he said, adding that similar services will be provided at other areas.

Among those present to witness and assist in the programme were District Chief Majabin Dalinus, Apin-Apin Native Chief Alexander Kandau, Keningau parliamentary liaison officer Harry Otigil, Bingkor community development officer Stanley Bungkilau and Bingkor People Development Leader Unit staff.

Panggil bomba tahan pendatang

2011-01-08T08:45:00.001+08:00

TAHAN...warga asing yang ditahan dalam operasi, semalam.

PUCHONG: Sebuah jentera bomba terpaksa dipanggil bagi menghadapi kemungkinan ada mangsa lemas selepas sekumpulan warga asing melarikan diri dengan terjun ke dalam sungai selepas penempatan haram mereka di Bandar Sri Puchong, di sini, diserbu awal pagi semalam.

Dalam operasi yang dilakukan Bahagian Penguatkuasaan Jabatan Imigresen Putrajaya kira-kira jam 2.30 pagi itu, kebanyakan warga asing terbabit yang tidur nyenyak kelam-kabut melarikan diri dengan terjun ke dalam sungai berhampiran penempatan itu walaupun air ketika itu deras dan dalam.

Timbalan Penolong Pengarah (Penguatkuasaan) Jabatan Imigresen Putrajaya, Nik Shahanizam Ahmad, berkata operasi dilakukan berdasarkan risikan hampir sebulan di kawasan itu selain maklumat awam. “Ada di antara warga asing terbabit sudah menghidu kehadiran kami (imigresen) dan cuba meloloskan diri ke kawasan semak berhampiran termasuk ada yang berlari ke sungai.

“Bagaimanapun, kami percaya tiada warga asing yang lemas atau hanyut dibawa arus deras sebaliknya percaya mereka meloloskan diri di kawasan tebing sungai itu,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya juga mendapati penempatan terbabit dibina secara kekal dan dihuni warga asing yang bekerja di beberapa pusat pembinaan yang terletak berhampiran.

Tinjauan Harian Metro turut mendapati, penempatan mengandungi beberapa blok dua tingkat itu dilengkapi alat pemadam api bagi tujuan keselamatan.

“Selepas mengenal pasti dan mengepung lokasi terbabit dan memastikan tiada yang terlepas, kami memeriksa lebih 100 warga asing di penempatan haram itu,” katanya yang mengetuai operasi berkenaan bersama-sama 52 pegawai dan anggota.

Beliau berkata, 54 warga asing ditahan dan terdiri daripada warga Indonesia, Bangladesh dan Vietnam. Daripada jumlah itu, 23 orang wanita dan tiga kanak-kanak.

Katanya, semua yang ditahan dibawa ke Depoh Tahanan Imigresen Putrajaya bagi proses dokumentasi dan disiasat mengikut Akta Imigresen 1959/63 bagi kesalahan penyalahgunaan permit kerja, tinggal melebihi tempoh ditetapkan selain tidak mempunyai dokumen lengkap.

Imigresen tahan 74 PATI

2010-12-14T10:37:00.001+08:00

PEGAWAI Imigresen memeriksa 74 PATI yang ditahan di Pendang dan Pokok Sena di pejabat Imigresen Alor Setar, semalam.

ALOR SETAR 13 Dis. - Cubaan 74 pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) untuk bekerja di negeri ini sebagai pesawah dan penoreh getah tidak kesampaian apabila mereka ditahan dalam dua operasi berasingan, malam semalam.

Pengarah Imigresen negeri, Mohd. Hatta Kassim berkata, dalam operasi pertama, seramai 36 warga asing ditahan hasil pemeriksaan di tiga buah rumah sewa di Kampung Air Putih dekat Pendang dan Kampung Tengah Mukim Tualang Jabi.

Beliau berkata, kesemua mereka adalah lelaki warganegara Myanmar berusia 17 hingga 60 tahun.

Menurutnya, dalam operasi kedua di sebuah kilang membuat bihun di Kampung Kedudung, Pokok Sena, seramai 38 PATI termasuk dua wanita ditahan.

"PATI-PATI itu terdiri daripada warga Myanmar, Bangladesh dan Nepal, berusia 18 hingga 36 tahun," katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Mohd. Hatta memberitahu, kedua-dua operasi itu diketuai oleh beliau sendiri bersama 23 pegawai Imigresen bermula pukul 11 malam semalam hingga 5 pagi ini. Jelasnya, semua yang ditahan dibawa ke pejabat Imigresen negeri untuk siasatan lanjut.

Katanya, siasatan dijalankan mengikut Seksyen 6(3) Akta Imigresen 1959/63 yang membawa hukuman denda hingga RM10,000 atau penjara sehingga lima tahun atau kedua-duanya sekali serta sebatan tidak melebihi enam kali jika sabit kesalahan.

"Warga asing yang ditahan di Pendang dan Jabi dipercayai bekerja sebagai penoreh getah dan pesawah padi.

"Siasatan awal mendapati mereka masuk ke negara ini menggunakan laluan tikus yang terdapat di sempadan negara," katanya.

Beliau berkata, siasatan lanjut akan dijalankan bagi mengenal pasti pihak yang menggaji mereka.

Crackdown on power thieves

2010-12-10T09:07:00.000+08:00

Power supplies to hundreds of illegal squatter houses in and around the city were disconnected in a two-day major crackdown on power theft which started yesterday.

The squatters were found connecting electricity supply from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) substations, electricity poles as well as City Hall’s street light panels along Jalan Sulaman and the old Jalan Tuaran.

The squatter colonies that were raided included Kg Lokub along Jalan Sulaman, Kg Padas squatter in Tobobon, Kg Suang Parai and Kg Pulau Penampang near 1Borneo, Signal Hill, Kampung Tg Aru Lama and Baru, Kampung Sembulan, Kolombong and Kg Meruntum in Putatan.

A SESB spokesman warned that power theft is an offence and the offenders could be prosecuted under Section 37 Electricity Supply Act 1990.

And, he also said stealing power is dangerous as the culprits could be electrocuted.

“And such an activity will also put the lives of innocent people in danger,” he said, adding that they conducted meetings with local community leaders during the raids yesterday.

On Thursday, the SESB raiding teams would visit other areas where power theft is rampant.

Apart from SESB personnel, officers from the Power Commission andSESB contractors were also involved in the crackdown.

Meanwhile, SESB recorded 666.01 System Average Interruption District Index (SADI) throughout the state so far this year.

Tanah rizab TNB jadi penempatan haram warga asing

2010-12-10T09:01:00.000+08:00

Warga asing semakin besar kepala apabila tanah rizab kerajaan dan Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) di kawasan perumahan Taman Permai Jaya, dekat sini, dijadikan penempatan setinggan dilengkapi stor barang lusuh dan kawasan industri.

Penduduk mendakwa penempatan itu didalangi penduduk tempatan yang memberi sewa kepada mereka hampir dua tahun lalu selepas penduduk asal berpindah ke rumah disediakan kerajaan.

Tinjauan Harian Metro di kawasan berkenaan mendapati lebih 30 rumah setinggan dibina dijadikan industri mengumpulkan barang lusuh dijual kepada pembeli.

Penduduk, Hasrizal Abd Jamil, 35, berkata sejak wujudnya penempatan itu, penduduk berada dalam kebimbangan kerana mereka menjalankan kegiatan mengumpul barang lusuh dan membakar kabel pada waktu malam.

Katanya, setiap hari penempatan haram itu dibelenggu bunyi bising yang menimbulkan ketidakselesaan kepada penduduk tempatan.

“Mereka sesuka hati menjadikan kawasan itu industri haram yang mengganggu penduduk tempatan.

“Kami membeli kediaman dengan harga RM300,000 tetapi tidak selesa ekoran kewujudan penempatan berkenaan,” katanya ketika ditemui di perumahan Taman Permai Jaya, semalam.

11,608 illegal immigrants deported last year

2010-11-26T10:41:00.001+08:00

A total of 11,608 illegal immigrants in Sabah had been deported last year.

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Nasrun Datu Mansur said that of the total, 8,510 were Philippine nationals and 2,810 were Indonesians, while the rest were from other countries.

“Between January and October this year, a total of 11,310 people had been repatriated to their countries of origin, of whom, 7,311 were Philippine nationals, 3,856 were Indonesians while 143 were from other countries,” he said when replying to a question from Datuk Louis Rampas (BN-Kiulu) at the State Legislative Assembly sitting, here yesterday.

He also said that the state government was committed to addressing the problems of incursions by illegal immigrants into Sabah and would take several follow-up measures.

These included intensifying checks at the entry points, especially along the east coast of Sabah, amending the law by imposing heavier penalties, intensifying operations to detain immigrants and increasing the number of temporary detention centres in the state.

Warga asing wajib ada insurans

2010-11-26T10:35:00.001+08:00

Semua pekerja asing di negara ini diwajibkan memiliki insurans kesihatan dengan premium maksimum sebanyak RM120 setahun mulai 1 Januari tahun depan.

Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai berkata, langkah itu bagi memastikan kerajaan dapat mengurangkan tunggakan bayaran bil hospital yang kini mencecah RM18 juta.

Malah jumlah itu dijangka meningkat dengan pertambahan kemasukan pekerja asing.

Menurutnya, langkah itu juga merupakan salah satu daripada enam projek permulaan (EPP) dalam segmen penjagaan kesihatan yang dikenal pasti di bawah Bidang Keberhasilan Ekonomi Utama Negara (NKEA) bagi memacu pencapaian ekonomi.

"Majikan perlu membeli insurans ketika melakukan proses permohonan permit sebelum membawa masuk setiap pekerja asing, manakala bagi pekerja asing sedia ada, insurans perlu dibeli ketika membuat urusan pembaharuan permit kerja.

"Kita memandang serius dalam melaksanakan langkah mewajibkan insurans kesihatan pekerja asing kerana tunggakan bil rawatan hospital yang terlalu tinggi. Ada di kalangan mereka yang bayar separuh tetapi ada (juga) yang tidak bayar langsung," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Persidangan Pengurusan Kementerian Kesihatan 2010 di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC) di sini hari ini.

Hadir sama Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr. Mohd. Ismail Merican.

Laporan akhbar September lalu menyebut, dianggarkan 50 peratus daripada 3.1 juta pekerja asing berdaftar di negara ini tidak dilindungi insurans dan bagi yang memilikinya, perlindungan yang diberikan masih belum memadai.

Sehubungan itu, Makmal Penjagaan Kesihatan di bawah Program Transformasi Ekonomi (ETP) merangka formula supaya semua pekerja asing diwajibkan mempunyai perlindungan insurans.

Menurut Tiong Lai, kerajaan tidak menetapkan mana-mana syarikat insurans yang terlibat dalam skim insurans pekerja asing itu, sebaliknya ia terbuka kepada semua firma insurans dan majikan boleh membuat pilihan sendiri.

Dalam pada itu, beliau berkata, selain insurans kesihatan, terdapat dua lagi EPP yang telah mula dilaksanakan iaitu mencergaskan semula pelancongan kesihatan dan mewujudkan ekosistem yang menyokong pembangunan penyelidikan.

Katanya, tiga lagi EPP yang masih dalam peringkat perancangan ialah meneroka dan mengejar peluang eksport generik, mewujudkan nexus perkhidmatan diagnostik dan membangunkan metropolis kesihatan iaitu sebuah kampus penjagaan kesihatan dan biosains bertaraf dunia.

Fourteen nabbed in three separate arrests

2010-10-30T10:19:00.001+08:00

The Marine Team Movement (PGM) detained 14 illegal immigrants, believed to be from Indonesia, comprising 12 men and 2 women in three different arrests in the district, yesterday.

Acting Tawau PGM Commanding Officer, Chief Inspector Sani Busu added that 2 drivers of 4WD vehicles were also arrested as they are believed to have helped smuggle in the detained illegal immigrants.

The vehicles used, worth RM110,000, were also impounded.

He explained that 6 illegal immigrants were arrested at around 10am from a carpark next to Restoran Bismillah Tawau, where they were hiding in a Toyota Vigo. Another 6 were later detained in the same area, this time in a Nissan Frontier.

The last 2 illegal immigrants were caught as they had just landed on the beach at Batu-Batu Sabindo.

All the illegal immigrants were believed to have just landed from Nunukan, Indonesia and destined to be sent to work at several nearby palm oil plantations.

“The two drivers we arrested are locals. They will be investigated under Section 55A (1) of the Immigration Act for transporting people with valid documents,” he said.

Ops against illegal hawkers and immigrants intensified

2010-10-30T10:18:00.001+08:00

LAHAD DATU: The police here have intensified its joint operations with the District Council enforcement unit against illegal hawkers and illegal immigrants. This was following last Thursday’s incident where a suspected ringleader of a pirated VCD and contraband cigarette peddlers gestured a “trigger-pulling” hand sign on the District Council Enforcement Unit Assistant Chief, Aliudin Maisin, while carrying out anti-illegal hawker operation at the central market on that morning.

Last Friday and Monday operations concentrated mainly at the central and wet market here, which resulted in 684kg of vegetables and fruits being confiscated, while a large amount of smuggled cigarettes hidden inside locked small wooden stalls were also found, and a dozen of people including contraband cigarette peddlers, were arrested. The two-day operations however failed to make arrest on any pirated VCD peddlers, as they managed to flee upon realizing the presence of police.

Last Friday’s operation which started at 2.30pm caught many by surprise. To prevent illegal hawkers from returning and starting their illegal activities, the enforcement unit personnel also took away tables, chairs, umbrellas and push carts that were abandoned by the fleeing illegal hawkers.

In the Monday operations which also begun at 2.30pm, the number of illegal hawkers operating at the market compound were found to have reduced significantly. But an inspection on the fish market and dry market uncovered hundreds of packs of smuggled cigarette hidden inside a locked wooden stall. Several Filipino peddlers of contraband cigarette were arrested by the plainclothes policemen, after dozen of various such cigarettes were found in their bags.

The police also assisted the Council enforcement unit in its operations against the illegal immigrants at Dam road at 3.45pm, before returning to the central market for a second round of illegal hawkers operation at 5pm to 6pm.

Head of District Traffic and Pubic Order, ASP Ali Husin Bin Sahina when met at the scene said police will not tolerate anyone threatening a civil servant from carrying out his duty.

“We will continue to carry such operations, the message is clear, we want them to respect and obey our laws,” he stressed.

Ali Husin also explained that last Thursday police did dispatched two MPV with six men to assist in the Council’s operation, but unfortunately the timing wasn’t well synchronized, with the Council enforcement unit arriving at the market five minutes earlier and conducted their operation without police’s assistance, resulting in the intimidation by the said pirated VCD ringleader, who was later arrested by the police.

“We are improving our strategy, hopefully both parties can arrive at the target area at the same time in the future to avoid such incident from occurring,” he added.

Kidnap of girl: Foreigners held

2010-10-30T10:17:00.001+08:00

Four illegal immigrants were arrested in a police ambush, Wednesday, after they collected RM1,500 as ransom money and released a 10-year-old girl they kidnapped the day earlier.

The girl was kidnapped while playing outside her house in Tuaran on Tuesday.

Her parents lodged a report when the kidnappers contacted them to demand money for her release.

They then made arrangements to meet in Inanam at 9pm where the transaction was to take place.

Soon after they released the girl, police moved in and arrested the four.

The girl was unharmed. Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid confirmed the incident.

Mahligai pendatang

2010-10-29T12:40:00.001+08:00

BERDERET...rumah setinggan yang dibina pendatang di tepi Sungai Puchong.

ITU DIA...seorang penghuni menunjukkan rumah setinggan pendatang di sebalik pokok besar.

PUCHONG: Mencemarkan pandangan mata apabila puluhan rumah setinggan didirikan dipercayai didiami pendatang Indonesia yang bekerja sebagai buruh binaan dan kilang industri di tebing Sungai Puchong dekat Pangsapuri Angsana Hilir, di sini, sejak empat bulan lalu.

Tinjauan Metroplus di kawasan berkenaan mendapati lebih 10 unit rumah setinggan setingkat dan dua tingkat diperbuat daripada kayu didirikan yang terlindung di sebalik pokok besar.

Penduduk, Rozita Abd Razak, 38, berkata, pendatang berani mendirikan rumah setinggan itu kerana ia tersorok di sebalik pokok besar hingga tidak kelihatan penduduk sekitar.

Katanya, penempatan haram itu boleh mendatangkan pelbagai masalah sekiranya tidak dibendung kerana mereka mungkin akan menambah lagi bilangan rumah serta mengajak masyarakat mereka mendiami kawasan itu.

“Kita bukan tidak suka dengan pendatang asing tetapi kedatangan mereka yang sesuka hati mendirikan rumah boleh menimbulkan pelbagai masalah termasuk kecurian dan rompakan kerana pada masa ini pelbagai masalah jenayah berlaku di sini.

“Kami bukan mahu menuduh mereka melakukan jenayah, tetapi eloklah kita berjaga sebelum kena,” katanya ketika ditemui di Pangsapuri Angsana Hilir,.

Menurutnya, penambahan warga asing di kawasan itu membimbangkan kerana menyebabkan jenayah kecil seperti kecurian berlaku hingga menakutkan penduduk terutama wanita.

Peniaga, Nasir Mohamad, 45, berkata, walaupun kedatangan setinggan tidak mengancam penduduk, ia memberi kesan pada masa akan datang kerana mereka berani mendirikan rumah dua tingkat diperbuat daripada kayu.

Katanya, kawasan tebing sungai diteroka boleh merosakkan ekosistem air kerana mungkin mereka menggunakan sungai sebagai punca air dan melakukan kegiatan harian.

“Kita tidak mahu kehadiran mereka memberi kesan kepada pelbagai pihak dan meminta pihak berkenaan mengambil tindakan segera bagi melegakan hati masyarakat,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Pegawai Perhubungan Awam Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ), Azfarizal Abdul Rashid berkata, pihaknya akan membuat siasatan perumahan setinggan sebelum tindakan sewajarnya diambil.

Katanya, perumahan itu mungkin baru kerana Subang Jaya bersih daripada setinggan apabila semua penduduk dipindahkan ke perumahan yang disediakan.

“Pada masa ini tidak sepatutnya ada setinggan kerana dasar inflasi sifar sudah menghapuskan semuanya dan mungkin ia dibina oleh pendatang asing,” katanya.

Approval for citizenship under Home Ministry’s jurisdiction, says rep

2010-10-25T11:21:00.000+08:00

Chai Kah Weng, who lost his citizenship after going to the National Registration Department (NRD) in Ipoh to apply for an identity card two years ago, has been advised to seek clarification from the Home Ministry.

Deputy minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong said the 14-year-old boy’s father, Lean Fook, could also bring the matter to his attention.

”Normally, if a child is born in Malaysia and his parents had registered their marriage or married legally, then the citizenship of the child will follow the citizenship of either the father or the mother.

”If the marriage is invalid, and the mother of the child is not a citizen of Malaysia, then the child will also be a non-citizen,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Lee, however, said, he needed more information on Kah Weng’s case before commenting further.

It was earlier reported that Lean Fook had delayed registering his marriage to his Thai wife Kanlaya Jaipinta, 44.

The couple was married in Thailand in 1991 but only registered their marriage in Malaysia in 1999, three years after Kah Weng was born.

Meanwhile, NRD public relations officer Jainisah Mohd Noor said the issue of Kah Weng having his citizenship revoked by the department did not arise.

She clarified that Kah Weng was essentially not a Malaysian citizen and that the department did not have any powers to revoke the citizenship of a Malaysian.

”Since Kah Weng was born before his parents registered their marriage, then he is actually a non-citizen,” she said, adding that the parents had failed to comply with Section 31 of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

She said under the act, couples who got married abroad must register their marriage at any Malaysian embassy or any NRD office within six months.

She further clarified that the old format of the Malaysian birth certificate did not state the citizenship status of holders.

”The citizenship status column in birth certificates was only introduced a few years ago.

“That is the reason why the new birth certificate issued to Kah Weng in 2008 stated that he is a non-citizen,” she said.

According to Jainisah, the decision to approve or reject Kah Weng’s application for citizenship is under the Home Ministry’s jurisdiction.

Parents’ folly renders boy stateless

2010-10-24T20:46:00.000+08:00

Applying for one’s MyKad is a proud moment for every 12-year-old. Sadly for Chai Kah Weng, that was the day he lost his citizenship instead.

When he went to the National Registration Department here to apply for his identity card, his citizenship was revoked.

Relating the incident two years ago, the 14-year-old boy’s father, Lean Fook, said the department took away his son’s birth certificate.

Kah Weng showing his expired Malaysian passport. The boy’s citizenship was revoked when he tried to apply for his MyKad.

“In turn, they reissued a new birth certificate which stated that he is not a Malaysian citizen.

“Kah Weng was born in Bukit Mertajam and is rightfully a Malaysian citizen,” the 49-year-old businessman from Gopeng told reporters here yesterday.

Lean Fook believes the problem was due to his delay in registering his marriage to his Thai wife Kanlaya Jaipinta, 44.

The couple were married in Thailand in 1991 but only registered their marriage in Malaysia in 1999, three years after Kah Weng was born.

“The Government should not penalise Kah Weng for my mistake.

“I was not aware of the requirement to register my marriage,” he added.

According to Lean Fook, he had received a letter dated Sept 30 from the department telling him that his application for Kah Weng’s citizenship was unsuccessful.

“It also said that the decision was final and that we could not appeal under the Federal Constitution.

“It is unreasonable to revoke my son’s citizenship after he had been issued with a birth certificate and also a Malaysian passport,” he said.

He added that Kah Weng was unable to renew his passport after it expired in 2009.

Kah Weng said he could not attend school after becoming stateless.

“I really hope to get my citizenship.

“I want to attend school and be like any normal teenager,” he said.

25 PATI diancam dengan senjata api

2010-10-18T09:46:00.000+08:00

GHAZALI Md. Amin (kiri) melihat sebahagian 25 PATI yang ditahan oleh Unit Pencegah Penyeludupan Perlis di Ladang Tebu Chuping di Padang Besar, kelmarin.

Sekumpulan 25 pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) menempuh pengalaman menakutkan apabila diacu dengan senjata api oleh tekong darat setelah enggan menceroboh ke negara ini dengan menyeberang pagar sempadan.

Pengalaman itu diceritakan oleh mereka setelah ditahan Unit Pencegah Penyeludupan (UPP) negeri, di ladang tebu Chuping di sini, kira-kira pukul 1 pagi semalam.

Mereka yang ditahan terdiri daripada 16 lelaki warga Bangladesh serta lapan lelaki dan seorang wanita Myanmar, berusia antara 17 dan 37 tahun.

Ketua Polis negeri, Datuk Ghazali Md. Amin berkata, semua warga Bangladesh terbabit mempunyai dokumen perjalanan tetapi tidak memiliki visa ketibaan (VOA) manakala warga Myanmar itu pula tidak mempunyai dokumen.

Menurutnya, semua warga Bangladesh itu tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), pada 13 Oktober lalu tetapi terpaksa ke Phuket, Thailand, setelah tidak memiliki VOA.

"Setibanya di negara berkenaan, warga Bangladesh tersebut diarahkan oleh sindiket itu untuk membayar AS$1,000 (RM3,084) untuk urusan visa.

"Wang itu adalah tambahan daripada RM13,000 yang dibayar oleh setiap mereka sebelum ke negara ini," katanya pada sidang akhbar di Kem UPP Chuping sini hari ini.

Menurut beliau, kesemua warga Bangladesh itu kemudian dibawa menaiki kenderaan pacuan empat roda ke sempadan Malaysia-Thailand, yang memakan masa enam jam.

"Mereka kemudian diarah oleh tekong darat untuk berjalan kaki memasuki Malaysia pada pukul 10 malam. Pada awalnya mereka enggan berbuat demikian tetapi terpaksa akur apabila diancam dengan senjata api.

"Setibanya di kebun getah di Chuping, mereka bertemu pula dengan sembilan kumpulan warga Myanmar berkenaan.

"Kesemuanya diarah berjalan kaki menuju ke ladang tebu selama dua jam sebelum diserbu oleh UPP. Bagaimanapun tekong darat itu berjaya melarikan diri," ujarnya.

Ghazali berkata, kesemua mereka ditahan di bawah Akta Imigresen 1959/1963 Pindaan 2002 Seksyen 6 (3) kerana tidak mempunyai dokumen sah untuk memasuki negara ini.

Katanya, jika didapati bersalah mereka boleh didenda tidak lebih RM10,000 atau penjara tidak lebih lima tahun atau kedua-duanya sekali.

Tujuh staf Imigresen ditahan ISA

2010-10-14T11:48:00.001+08:00

Polis menahan sembilan individu termasuk tujuh kakitangan Jabatan Imigresen di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) kerana terlibat dalam kegiatan sindiket penyeludupan warga asing yang pihak berkuasa percaya mampu menggugat keselamatan negara.

Penahanan kesemua suspek yang dilakukan dalam operasi besar-besaran selama tiga hari bermula Ahad lalu itu turut melibatkan dua warga asing yang bagaimanapun tidak didedahkan identiti negaranya.

Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Ismail Omar berkata, penahanan sembilan individu itu sekali gus berjaya membongkar dan mengekang aktiviti sindiket berkenaan daripada terus berleluasa.

"Pihak polis memandang serius terhadap kegiatan sindiket ini kerana aktiviti pembolosan yang dilakukan telah menimbulkan kebimbangan terhadap tahap keselamatan di pintu-pintu masuk negara.

"Kegiatan ini juga bukan sahaja boleh mengancam keselamatan negara malah di rantau ini sekiranya ia dibiarkan terus berleluasa. Jangan sesekali membiarkan pihak tidak bertanggungjawab mengambil kesempatan untuk melakukan jenayah berat merentasi sempadan khususnya aktiviti keganasan, penyeludupan senjata api dan dadah," katanya pada sidang akhbar di Ibu Pejabat Polis Bukit Aman di sini hari ini.

Pendedahan polis itu jelas satu tamparan besar kepada Jabatan Imigresen apabila baru-baru ini, tujuh pegawainya ditahan dan disiasat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) berhubung penglibatan dalam penyeludupan pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) ke negara ini.

Ismail menambah, tindakan polis ini juga selaras hasrat kerajaan untuk membuktikan kepada masyarakat antarabangsa bahawa Malaysia komited dalam usaha memerangi kegiatan penyeludupan manusia.

"Malah ini merupakan satu langkah untuk menghalang sebarang cubaan menjadikan negara ini sebagai 'transit point' bagi kegiatan tersebut," ujarnya.

Minggu lalu, SPRM menahan dua pegawai Imigresen di jeti Port Dickson kerana dipercayai menyeludup PATI ke negara ini yang dikatakan meraih pendapatan sehingga RM33,600 seminggu.

Selang dua hari kemudian, SPRM menahan seorang pegawai Imigresen dan tujuh individu kerana dipercayai terlibat menyeludup masuk PATI melalui jeti Pulau Ketam setelah menerima suapan dikenali sebagai 'wang tunjuk' daripada kapten kapal.

Ia disusuli dengan penahanan empat anggota termasuk seorang wanita.

2 ditahan suap RM33,600 seminggu

2010-10-04T09:38:00.000+08:00

Dua lagi pegawai Imigresen ditahan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) kerana dipercayai 'menyeludup' pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) ke negara ini yang dikatakan meraih pendapatan sehingga RM33,600 seminggu.

Pegawai yang bertugas di jeti Port Dickson, dekat sini itu dikatakan mengenakan bayaran RM5,600 bagi setiap feri membawa PATI sejak empat tahun lalu. Dalam seminggu, enam feri yang setiap satu mengangkut kira-kira 70 PATI dari Dumai, Indonesia akan berlabuh di jeti Port Dickson.

Dalam tangkapan Rabu lalu itu, SPRM turut merampas wang tunai berjumlah RM26,000 di pejabat salah seorang pegawai terbabit.

Kelmarin, seorang pegawai Imigresen turut ditahan kerana menjadi dalang sindiket 'menyeludup' PATI melalui jeti Pulau Ketam, Selangor.

Jurucakap SPRM negeri berkata, dua pegawai yang berusia 40-an dan 50-an itu diberkas bersama-sama seorang lelaki, kira-kira pukul 7 petang di jeti berkenaan, Rabu lalu.

Difahamkan, lelaki yang ditahan itu menjadi perantara dengan tekong feri Indonesia untuk membawa masuk PATI dari negara tersebut.

Menurut jurucakap SPRM itu, hasil intipan SPRM mendapati kedua-dua pegawai itu telah melakukan kegiatan tersebut sejak empat tahun lalu.

"Mereka (pegawai) menerima rasuah RM5,600 bagi setiap feri yang membawa 70 PATI dari Dumai, Indonesia yang ingin masuk ke negara ini," katanya di sini hari ini.

Jurucakap itu menambah, dua pegawai Imigresen itu mengutip wang rasuah daripada tekong dan jika gagal membayar wang tersebut, tekong tidak akan dibenarkan menurunkan PATI.

Katanya, ketiga-tiga suspek kini ditahan reman sehingga Rabu ini untuk siasatan lanjut.

Pihak SPRM turut menjalankan siasatan lanjut bagi mengenal pasti sama ada terdapat pengawai Imigresen mahupun kakitangan agensi lain turut terlibat sama dalam kegiatan tersebut, jelasnya.

Sementara itu, Pengarah SPRM negeri, Hishamuddin Hashim ketika dihubungi hari ini mengesahkan kes berkenaan.

Kelmarin, SPRM menahan seorang pegawai Imigresen dan tujuh individu kerana dipercayai terlibat menyeludup masuk PATI melalui jeti Pulau Ketam setelah menerima suapan dikenali sebagai 'wang tunjuk' dari kapten kapal.

Dalam serbuan itu, SPRM turut menemui wang tunai kira-kira RM30,000 di rumah pegawai Imigresen tersebut, manakala RM70,000 lagi dijumpai di pejabat salah seorang perantara yang ditahan.

Serbu 180 rumah pendatang

2010-10-01T10:11:00.001+08:00

Sikap tidak bertanggungjawab majikan menyembunyikan pekerja mereka yang juga pendatang asing tanpa izin di dalam puluhan rumah kedai menyebabkan kawasan Brickfields, di sini, menjadi koloni warga asing.

Walaupun kawasan itu pernah diserbu, tetapi kehadiran pendatang asing masih ramai. Ini terbukti apabila 151 pendatang asing ditahan dalam serbuan dilakukan penguat kuasa Jabatan Imigresen Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (WPKL), lewat malam kelmarin.

Dalam Ops Sapu bermula kira-kira jam 10 malam itu, seramai empat pegawai dan 51 anggota penguat kuasa Imigresen menyerbu 180 rumah yang dipercayai menempatkan pendatang asing terbabit.

Community leaders should provide info on presence of illegal immigrants

2010-09-23T12:47:00.000+08:00

Police wants community leaders to furnish information on the presence of illegal immigrants in their areas to the force.

State Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim said community leaders who know their areas and neighbourhood well should share such information with the police.

“We welcome community leaders and the public to come forward and discuss with us to address the issue of illegal immigrants,” he said.

He said police of late have received numerous complaints from certain community leaders on the presence of immigrants.

“We have some claiming there are between 200,000 and 300,000 immigrants in the state.

“This is a baseless allegation. According to our intelligence, there are some 65,000 immigrants in Sabah,” he said.

He said the figure did not include foreigners in possession of IMM13travel documents and those issued with work permits.

Police believed majority of the immigrants were illegally employed in plantations located some 200 to 300km in remote areas.

“We have taken pro active actions and doing our best to resolve this problem in the state,” he added.

He said police were sensitive on immigrants issue because it affected the state security and economy.

Police were involved in various operations to detect and arrest immigrants including Ops Bersepadu, Ops Nyah II, Ops PTI and routine operations conducted by 20 district police headquarters throughout the state.

“From 2008 until yesterday, we have checked 144,747 foreigners in various operations statewide and detained 66,321 immigrants,” said Noor Rashid.

Majority of the immigrants have been deported after being charged in courts.

Noor Rashid said some 38,481 foreigners detained in the operations for committing various offences under Immigration Act were handed over to the Immigration Department for further action.

“We will continue our routine operations to detect and arrest them and if anyone has information on their presence, please come forward and assist us,” he added.

80 illegals nabbed in sting

2010-09-03T01:07:00.000+08:00

KENINGAU: The authorities have stepped up its operations against illegal immigrants in the district.

In an integrated sting, the authorities led by police nabbed 80 illegal immigrants during a two-hour operation in town on Tuesday.

District police chief DSP Zahari Mohamed said 15 of them were released after they produced their documents which were verified by the immigration department.

“We detained 22 Filipinas and 58 Indonesians during the operation,” he said adding that those who did not have papers were handed over to the immigration for further action.

According to him, these illegals were a threat to security and some even accosted local girls in town.

“From what we gathered, some of the foreigners who are jobless will loiter in town and their presence is a threat,” he said.

Zahari said that the authorities would step up its operations against illegal immigrants who may have gone into hiding.

He admitted that many of the foreigners had entered the State with passport but decided to remain to find work.

He urged employers not to hire foreigners without work permit to work which is an offence.

“As for villagers, they must cooperate with us to stamp out the presence of illegal immigrants in their neighbourhood,” he said.

Village headmen must be mindful that the presence of illegal immigrants in their neighbourhood was a threat.

“The security of villages will be put at risk as these immigrants may resort to crime to earn a living,” Zahari said.

Time's up for illegals under bridge

2010-08-30T14:47:00.000+08:00

A group of 35 homeless Palaus living under the bridge near a roundabout at Tanjung Lipat were picked up, Saturday, and placed at the temporary detention centre in Papar pending deportation.

Immigration officers rounded up the illegal immigrants, aged between one and 58, with the help of marine police about 9am.

The group included four men, 12 women, 10 boys and nine girls.

It was learnt that a local brought the group into the State after promising them jobs as fishermen.

They entered the State without any documents in a boat from Bongao, Southern Philippines, but were abandoned after arriving in the State capital.

State Immigration Director Hj Mohd Mentek said it received complaints regarding disturbance caused by their activities under the bridge since four months ago.

"City Hall also received complaints. They claimed to be Palau and don't know how to speak Melayu (Malay language). So our officers were having problem communicating with them," he said.

Mentek said the department visited the bridge with a local Palau, a head village of Kg Bonga Bonga Semporna, on Thursday, to ascertain the origins of the group.

"Last year we picked up a different group also living under the bridge.

This is a new group. We also have the name of the suspect and I advise him to come forward," Mentek added.

The case would be investigated under Section 6 (1) (C) of the Immigration Acts 1959/63 for illegal entry.

Joint stand on illegals

2010-08-26T16:10:00.000+08:00

Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) components at its second meeting, Tuesday, viewed with great concern the issue of illegal immigrants in the State and that it needed a concrete solution.

State BN Chairman Datuk Seri Musa Aman said in view of this, leaders of all the State BN component parties would discuss the findings of the special laboratory on illegal immigrants.

"The State Cabinet has been briefed on the special laboratory and the findings will be discussed collectively by us (Sabah BN leaders)," he told reporters at Pacific Sutera, following the meeting.

It was conducted in family spirit and on the note that the next meeting could be held anywhere and anytime if there were urgent matters to be discussed.

Musa said the BN was determined to find a solution to the illegal immigrant issue in the State that saw many component leaders being very vocal on the matter recently.

The meeting also discussed the issue of land, especially reserve land occupied by locals. Musa briefed the leaders on the State Government policies on issuing communal titles to eligible locals and the plan to convert reserve land to state land.

Such an approach would enable the local people occupying forest reserve land to continue staying there after they were given collective titles.

"I explained that state agencies like SLDB and Sawit Kinabalu are only assisting in terms of providing infrastructure in the area concerned as well as capital for the hardcore poor to build their houses," he said.

Musa, who is also State Finance Minister, said the State Government don't want past mistakes to be repeated where the land was sold because the recipients didn't have the means to develop it.

"Now we will help and I also explained about the Communal Title that we created and give to those who have no land of which the priority is for those living near the land that we acquired," he said.

The meeting also agreed on setting up special committees within its ambit to discuss pressing issues and provide input similar to the practice by the BN Supreme Council where all the component parties are represented by all component parties.

"This will make it easier for us to address common issues," he said.

It is learnt that three committees had been proposed namely for the political issues, dual membership and political appointments.

On the intense lobbying by Umno for seats for the next General Election, he said this has been put on the backburner and left to the BN leadership.

Musa acknowledged there had been demands for seats but that "we agree with the Prime Minister that the decision on the state seat allocation will be by the BN leadership".

"Whatever had been voiced out could be from the grassroots leaders but what is important when the decision is made by the leadership BN is we comply.

"I think it will not be a problem É it is normal that there are component parties asking for seats," said.

The meeting was attended by all the component party presidents in Sabah except Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Datuk V.K Liew who was represented by Deputy President Datuk Chin Su Phin and Sec-Gen Datuk Teo Chee Kang.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) was represented by its President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Deputy President Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili and Sec-Gen, Datuk Henrynus Amin, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) by President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup and Sec-Gen Datuk Dr Johnson Tee, United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) by President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Deputy President Datuk Wilfred Bumburing and Sec-Gen Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.

As for the peninsula-based component parties, MCA was represented by its Sabah chief Datuk Edward Khoo, deputy chief Senator Datuk Paul Kong and Secretary Goh Wak Kheng; Sabah Gerakan by its Chief, Datuk Gordon Leong, Vice Chief John Goh and Vice President, Datuk Raymond Tan while MIC by its Sabah liaison chief, Datuk V Jothi, deputy chief Victor Rajasekaran and Secretary Ganesh Nandy.

Apart from Musa, Sabah Umno was represented by its deputy chief, Datuk Salleh Tun Said, treasurer Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor and assistant secretary Datuk Masidi Manjun. Also on hand was State BN Secretary Datuk Rahman Dahlan.

Musa dispelled the notion that there was a general reluctance to hold the BN meetings to thrash out issues.

"It is not that we don't want to have meetings but sometimes many of the leaders are in Kuala Lumpur like Tan Sri Dompok and Dr Max as they are Federal ministers and in their line of duties they often have to travel overseas.

"Each of us is very busy because as leaders, ministers, deputy ministers and assistant ministers, we all have responsibilities. But when it is important and necessary we will hold the meeting. There is no problem," he said.

Musa said the second meeting saw a heart-to-heart discussion and that almost all of them had presented views and ideas on ways to further strengthen the BN in Sabah.

"What is important I also say that Umno (in Sabah) has been taking steps to strengthen the election machinery and we also invite our partners in the BN to join us.

"This does not mean the election will be held very soon but we are only making preparations to ensure our election machinery and members increased," he said. He hoped other Sabah BN component parties would be doing likewise.

On the State BN's confidence in facing the next election, he said: "Yes, if we previously we are confident now we more confident because there is no big problem (among Sabah BN) that cannot be resolved since the beginning and what is important we understand each other".

His sentiment on the issue was similar when asked on the State BN's confidence in the Chinese majority seats.

"But we must go to the ground together and be united besides updating our machinery," he said, adding he was glad to note that several BN leaders attended the Sabah Umno breaking of fast at Nabawan on Monday.

Among them who came were Kurup, Datuk Bobbey Suan and Datuk Ellron Angin and this showed the camaraderie spirit in the BN was well intact.

Ignore Bendera, says embassy official

2010-08-26T12:02:00.001+08:00

Indonesian nationalist group Bendera’s warning that it will shave the heads of Malaysians and deport them is an empty one, said Indonesian Minister Counsellor for Information, Social and Culture to Malaysia Widyarka Ryananta.

Brushing off the claims as another one of Bendera’s attention-seeking tactics, the embassy official said he had full confidence that Malaysians were safe in his home country.

He urged Malaysians to ignore Bendera, which he described as a minority group, and its “extreme” ways, which did not represent the sentiments of the majority of Indonesians.

“We are very disappointed with Bendera’s foul abuse of the freedom of expression that is available in our country,” Widyarka said of Monday’s incident when Bendera members threw human faeces into the compound of the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta.

Sending a message: Indonesian demonstrators driving to the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta on Tuesday. — AFP

It had been reported that the activist group had declared a “sweeping” operation against Malaysians, supposedly to have begun yesterday, to deport them.

The group had also defiled the Jalur Gemilang during Monday’s demonstration to protest against the Malaysian authorities’ detention of three Indonesian maritime officers.

“Just like last year, they (Bendera) said they would invade Malaysia but, expectedly, it did not happen.

“They are just a minority group launching an extreme discourse,” said Widyarka.

Meanwhile, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu condemned the action of the demonstrators, saying: “No individual or group must resort to this kind of action as it will hurt relations between Malaysia and Indonesia.”

In George Town, the Penang government stated that it was “very anxious” that the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta had been “contaminated” by demonstrators who threw faeces into its compound.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said such acts must be stopped immediately.

“Malaysia and Indonesia have a good relationship – I am sure the Indonesian government does not condone this very shocking act.”

“Even if there is a misunderstanding, it need not have come to this,” Lim told a press conference after presenting a RM10,000 contribution to the police and armed forces yesterday.

In Johor Baru, the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students’ representative council described Bendera’s attack as unethical and disrespectful of regional neighbours, especially those who were fasting.

Its president Muhammad Zaki Omar said: “We urge the Indonesian government to take stern action against the protesters for not respecting the friendship between the two nations.”

Citing the example of UTM, he pointed out that the university had sent its students to help those hit by natural disasters in Indonesia such as the Padang earthquake and Aceh tsunami.

He also said Indonesian students were welcome to continue their studies at UTM, adding that some of them were also given financial help to study.

Malaysia losing patience after demos in Jakarta embassy

2010-08-26T11:58:00.001+08:00

The Government has cautioned that its patience is running thin following the unruly protest by a group of Indonesians against the country.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said that such demonstrations – including flag-burning and faeces-throwing – could jeopardise bilateral ties.

The Indonesian protests occurred after the Aug 13 detention of three Indonesian maritime officers by Malaysia after the officers had held seven Malaysian fishermen.

Among yesterday’s developments

> Nationalist group Bendera rallied outside CIMB-Niaga Bank and Petronas in Jakarta, telling them to leave the country;

> Indonesia said it is not recalling its ambassador to Malaysia;

> No travel advisory yet against Malaysians visiting the republic;

> Security around the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta and the residence of Ambassador Datuk Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin has been beefed up.

10,000 Indonesians without passports can go home for Raya

2010-08-13T23:15:00.000+08:00

About 10,000 Indonesians in the country, without valid travel documents, are expected to return to their country in phases, to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, using the Travel Document In Lieu of Passport (SPLP).

Indonesian Embassy's Counselor for Information, Social and Culture, Widyarka Ryananta said the figure was an estimate as, on average, 200 to 300 applications were received by the Embassy, everyday.

"We expect the number of applications to increase when the date for Hari Raya gets closer," he told Bernama when contacted here Friday.

Widyarka said the Embassy received 4,753 SPLP applications in July and 2,708 in June.

He said SPLP was a document for Indonesians who did not have a valid travel document to return to Indonesia, without being detained by the Malaysian authorities.

Those with the SPLP would be sent home either through the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang or the ferry services in Port Klang and Johor Baharu.

He said those applying for the SPLP need to pay a compound, air fare or ferry fare and RM15 for the SPLP certificate.

Widyarka also expressed regret that despite such services, there were still those who were willing to risk their lives by using illegal ways to leave the country.

"We have come across many cases of boat tragedies when overweight boats capsize or those leaving illegally being captured by the authorities," he said. - Bernama

Maid issue talks with Indonesia still ongoing

2010-08-10T11:51:00.001+08:00

Discussions are ongoing on the supply of Indonesian domestic maids to Malaysia although Malaysia has rejected a request for a minimum monthly wage of RM800 for these foreign workers, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said yesterday.

He said the next round of discussions would be held as soon as possible to enable Indonesia to lift its freeze imposed on the supply of the maids in June last year.

“I have asked for both sides to hold the discussions as soon as possible,” he said to reporters after presenting to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) graduand T. Ramanathan the excellent student award of the MIC Higher Education Bureau, here.

It was reported last Saturday that Malaysia rejected an Indonesian request for a RM800 monthly minimum wage for its domestic maids because Malaysia did not have a minimum wage structure.

14,179 received M'sian citizenship

2010-08-10T11:50:00.001+08:00

Out of 29,677 applications for Malaysian citizenship received between 2007 and 2009, 14,179 of them had been approved, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong said.

The remaining 15,498 applications were still being processed and expected to be finalised by end of the year, he added.

He said all applications for citizenship would be vetted and only those eligible would be accorded the status.

Lee told this to reporters after presenting the Malaysian citizenship papers to 132 permanent residents from Indonesia, India, Taiwan, China, Myanmar and Thailand, aged between 12 and 80, here yesterday.

The recipients included Mumtaz Malika Kanan Mohamaed, 45, from India, who had been in the country since 1989 after following her husband.

She thanked the Malaysian government and vowed to contribute to the country.

Malaysia and Philippines committed to border security

2010-08-10T11:48:00.000+08:00

Malaysia and the Philippines have expressed commitment in ensuring security at the border and in tackling illegal immigration, Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Zahid said the matter was among the issues discussed during a meeting with Philippine national defence secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin.

“There will be a follow up visit by the Malaysian foreign minister and home minister to show Malaysia’s commitment in collaborating with the Philippines in the effort to enhance stability at the border,” he told Malaysian journalists here.

Zahid, who earlier called on Gazmin, is on a two-day visit to this country.

Today, he would proceed to Mindanao to present humanitarian aid to the local community.

Zahid also said that security at the Malaysia-Philippines border was under control.

“The Malaysian security forces have been monitoring the waters in the east coast of Sabah, through the security operation known as the Ops Pasir, to maintain security in the area and prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the border,” he said.

The Ops Pasir was launched in September 2000.

Zahid said during the meeting yesterday, they agreed to further enhance ties including in terms of joint-exercise between the security forces of both countries.

In Mindanao tomorrow, Zahid is scheduled to receive a briefing on the operations of the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team which monitors the implementation of the cessation of hostilities between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Penjaja asing bikin onar

2010-08-10T11:46:00.000+08:00

Macam negara asing apabila ratusan pendatang tanpa izin menjalankan perniagaan di atas jalan dan lot tempat letak kereta di pasar malam Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh sejak tiga tahun lalu.

Mereka rata-rata memperoleh keuntungan lumayan apabila menggunakan jalan utama diguna penduduk untuk keluar masuk ke pekan Sungai Buloh dari jam 2 petang hingga 10 malam sehingga menimbul kemarahan masyarakat sekitar.

Tinjauan Metroplus di pasar malam berkenaan mendapati mereka menjalankan perniagaan menjual sayur, barang dapur dan makanan tanpa rasa takut. Penduduk, Tarhidheran, 64, berkata kegiatan perniagaan warga asing itu menyebabkan jalan utama yang diguna lebih 1,000 kenderaan sehari terpaksa ditutup kerana mereka beroperasi di atas jalan sepanjang lebih tiga kilometer.

“Sebagai rakyat tempatan saya rasa macam berada di negara asing apabila dinafikan hak untuk menggunakan jalan raya selepas pembukaan pasar malam dengan ratusan khemah didirikan.

“Ia juga menimbulkan kesesakan apabila penduduk hanya boleh menggunakan jalan alternatif saja sedangkan sebelum ini kita menggunakan dua jalan untuk keluar masuk,” katanya ketika ditemui, di sini, baru-baru ini.

Peniaga, Lai Loo San ,70, berkata operasi perniagaan haram oleh warga asing itu menyebabkan perniagaan restorannya merosot apabila terpaksa menutup operasi pada jam 2 petang. Katanya, ini kerana mereka menggunakan lot jalan dan tempat letak kereta di depan kedainya dan beberapa kedai lain.

“Saya mahu pihak berkenaan memantau kawasan ini dan mengambil tindakan wajar kepada warga asing yang tiada permit berniaga di pasar malam ini.

“Ini bagi menjamin hak peniaga tempatan untuk terus beroperasi walaupun ada pasar malam dengan mengharamkan penggunaan jalan utama dan tempat letak kereta sebagai tempat berniaga supaya pengguna dapat datang ke kedai kami seperti biasa,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Ketua Cawangan MCA Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, Poon Hoon berkata, pihak berkuasa perlu membantu penduduk dengan menangani warga asing daripada terus berniaga di atas jalan. Katanya, kalau berniaga di atas tapak pasar malah mereka tidak kisah, tetapi menggunakan jalan raya dan tempat letak kereta memberi masalah kepada penduduk.

Singapore to control inflow of foreign workers

2010-08-10T11:45:00.000+08:00

The Singapore government has assured its citizens that it would control the inflow of foreign workers and immigrants to the city-state to ensure that their arrivals are not too rapid and too large.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the increasing number of foreigners residing in the city-state now had caused some concern among Singaporeans who felt their position might be jeopardised such as in job and educational opportunities.

“We will make clear that citizens come first,” Lee pointed out, adding that after all, the government was doing this for the sake of Singaporeans.

Lee said this in his message in conjunction with Singapore’s 45th National Day celebration tomorrow which was broadcast over television here last night.

Singapore which is fast developing but lacking workers, has a population of around five million and over one million are immigrants.

However, the prime minister stressed that Singapore could not do without a proportion of foreign workers, or a continuing flow of permanent residents and new citizens.

“We must make up for the shortage of Singaporean workers in our economy and the shortfall of babies in our population,” Lee said.

He said without an inflow, over time Singapore’s economy and society would lose vibrancy, its citizens would enjoy fewer opportunities, and “our shining red dot will get dimmer”.

Lee assured that the government would only bring in people who could contribute to Singapore and would work harder to integrate them into its society.

He said Singaporeans should welcome foreigners with an open heart, help them to fit in and encourage those who would become citizens to establish roots here.

“If we do this well, by the next generation, their children will be native Singaporeans,” Lee said.

“Remember, we ourselves are descendants of immigrants too,” he said, adding that with new arrivals living and working harmoniously with those born here, the people would keep Singapore dynamic, cosmopolitan and successful.

On the economy, Lee said the country’s growth had rebounded strongly from last year’s recession, with gross domestic product growing 17.9 per cent year-on-year in the first half of this year.

He said many jobs had been created and unemployment was low, and Singaporean workers could look forward to better wages, more overtime and higher bonuses this year.

Lee said Singapore’s growth would likely be moderate in the second half of the year, at between 13 and 15 per cent.

Court finds NRD at fault

2010-08-09T10:41:00.000+08:00

The High Court ruled, Friday, that the National Registration Department was wrong to give an 80-year-old Penampang woman Permanent Residence when she applied to have her lost MyKad replaced. But in the same breath, it held that the MyPR status had not deprived her of her Malaysian citizenship.

Judicial Commissioner Dato' Abdul Rahman Sebli, therefore, dismissed Yong Lee Hua @ Piang Lin's claim for damages with costs. The court found that Yong's claim for damages had not been proven although she proved she was a Malaysian citizen by operation of law.

"The first defendant (Sabah NRD Director) was wrong in issuing her with a MyPR instead of a MyKad. I further find that the issuance of MyPR had not deprived the plaintiff (Yong) of her Malaysian citizenship. In the circumstances, the plaintiff's claim for damages is dismissed with costs to be taxed unless agreed," held Abdul Rahman.

Yong had, on Nov. 4, 2008 through her counsel Martin Idang, sued the Sabah NRD Director and the Government of Malaysia as the first and second defendant, respectively, claiming damages and relief during an 18-month period her citizenship was revoked.

It was reported that Yong's problem begun when she applied for replacement of her MyKad that was lost at a supermarket on Feb. 13, 2007. In replacing her MyKad, the NRD issued her with a Permanent Residence (PR) MyKad (Red IC), automatically ending Yong's citizenship status.

Her plight attracted the attention of then Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar who came here to assess the matter himself. It was during Syed Hamid's visit that Yong was issued a new MyKad on Oct. 9, 2008, that reinstated her status as citizen.

However, in her suit, Yong claimed she suffered losses such as her bank account being frozen and could not withdraw money when she needed it to pay for medical expenses for her husband who fell sick early 2008. She said she was also unable to withdraw money to pay for funeral expenses when her husband died about four months before she filed the suit.

She also had to cancel her trip (which she already paid for) to Jakarta for a church group gathering scheduled for Sept 13, 2008 because she could not renew her international passport.

Yong claimed she had to borrow money from her children for all the medical and funeral expenses up to a point that she started getting embarrassed for continuing to depend on her children and her family was also affected deeply by the problem that befell her.

She also claimed that her state of health deteriorated and required medical attention due to the stress of losing her citizenship and that her mental anguish was compounded by the friends' suspicion of her status as citizen.

Yong further claimed that after her husband passed away she became more scared leaving home because she felt like a foreigner and that it was up to the court to determine the cost of the damages and relief.

Senior Federal Counsel Steve Ritikos represented both defendants. Following the court's ruling Yong told reporters she would meet with her family first to decide on her next course of action. She was accompanied by her second son, Frankie Foo and social activist and veteran politician Dr Chong Eng Leong. Meanwhile, Chong said the damages sought by Yong was not their main concern.

"Our main concern is to tell people that those old people who are still alive that if they were born in Sabah before Malaysia Day and if they do not have Malaysian (birth) certificates but have other evidence to prove that they are born in Sabah, they are, by operation of law automatic citizens of Malaysia," he said.

149 pendatang tanpa izin cuba naik pesawat ditahan

2010-08-09T10:33:00.000+08:00

Seramai 149 pendatang asing tanpa izin warga Indonesia yang masuk ke negara ini secara haram ditahan ketika cuba keluar melalui laluan sah dengan menaiki pesawat udara, awal pagi semalam.

Penahan itu dilakukan selepas pihak berkuasa mengesan taktik pendatang terbabit menggunakan pasport palsu, menyalahgunakan permit dan tinggal lebih masa di negara ini ketika bersedia untuk berlepas di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa (LTSI) Sultan Ismail, Senai di sini.

Timbalan Penolong Pengarah Imigresen Johor, Gajendran Bahadur berkata, semua tangkapan itu dilakukan Bahagian Penguat Kuasa imigresen Johor ketika pendatang terbabit cuba melepasi pintu kawalan imigresen.

“Semua pendatang terbabit ditahan ketika cuba melepasi pintu kawalan Imigresen untuk menaiki penerbangan sebuah pesawat sewa khas ke Surabaya, Indonesia.

“Kami yakin pendatang ditahan beranggapan mereka dapat meloloskan diri dengan mudah menggunakan laluan udara berbanding menaiki bot dan sebagainya,” katanya di sini, semalam.

Beliau berkata dalam operasi dijalankan dua pegawai serta enam anggota itu, risikan dilakukan bermula jam 9 malam kelmarin sebelum serbuan jam 12.30 tengah malam. Daripada jumlah yang ditahan, katanya, 80 wanita dan 11 kanak-kanak manakala selebihnya lelaki.

“Mereka dipercayai dalam perjalanan kembali ke Surabaya bagi membuat persiapan menyambut Ramadan serta Aidilfitri di kampung halaman.

“Kami masih menyiasat bagaimana mereka memalsukan semua dokumen terbabit dan selain cubaan keluar melalui jalan udara,” “Jumlah tangkapan pendatang yang menggunakan laluan udara dalam cubaan untuk keluar semalam yang terbesar direkodkan di Johor tahun ini,” katanya.

Menurut Gajendran, sebelum ini, pihaknya menahan kumpulan pendatang yang turut menggunakan taktik sama, tetapi jumlahnya kecil.

PBS wants Federal govt to resolve illegal immigrant problems in Sabah

2010-08-05T21:21:00.000+08:00

The Federal Government must act now to resolve the problem of illegal immigration rather than later if the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government were to appease the growing frustration and public discontent in Sabah.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Secretary-General, Henrynus Amin, said the inclusion of illegal immigration in the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) was necessary to compel enforcement agencies to produce results.

A Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, had recently said that the issue of illegal immigration was not one of the country's six top priorities and therefore not included in the NKRA.

Henrynus said PBS feared the non-inclusion of the illegal immigrant issue in the NKRA would reinforce public opinion that the Federal Government was not interested or lacked the political will to act.

In this respect, he said PBS commended Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman for his foresight to have the special laboratory held in Sabah to signify the importance of the national security issues.

"But the result of the laboratory must be disclosed now and acted upon.

Otherwise, it may be seen as mere window dressing, or at best, an academic exercise," he said in a statement here Wednesday.

The special laboratory on foreign workers and illegal immigration involved participants from the relevant departments and agencies, including the police, immigration, Attorney-General's Chambers, Election Commission, local authorities, district offices and non-governmental organisation (NGOs).

PBS reiterated its support for the special laboratory as part of the party's initiative to bring the issue of illegal immigration to the national agenda, he said.

Henrynus said PBS firmly believed the presence of a huge transient population in Sabah was a national problem which required national solutions and commitment.

He said opposition propaganda were exploiting public fears of transient population by twisting and spinning the facts and the good intention of the Government.

He said by supporting the special laboratory, PBS was being unfairly accused of being responsible for the proposal to hire illegal immigrants.

For the record, he said, the PBS President, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, was interviewed by the special lab committee where he clearly stated PBS policy of zero tolerance on illegal immigration.

He said Pairin did not mince his words when repeating his call for the issue of illegal immigrants to be resolved by 2012 and urged the authorities to include the issue in the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) in order to achieve results.

Henrynus said personal statements in the press perceived to be contrary to PBS official stand would not nullify PBS resolve to find ways and means to end the perennial problem of illegal immigration.

Bayi antara 19 pati ditahan dalam Ops Sapu

2010-08-04T08:52:00.000+08:00

Jabatan Imigresen Kedah menahan 19 pendatang asing tanpa izin termasuk seorang bayi perempuan dalam Ops Sapu yang dijalankan malam tadi hingga awal pagi ini di beberapa lokasi di sini dan Pendang.

Timbalan pengarahnya, Hasreena Hashim berkata daripada jumlah itu, tujuh adalah warga Kemboja, lima Myanmar, empat Bangladesh dan tiga orang warga Indonesia.

"Operasi selama lapan jam bermula kira-kira pukul 8 malam dan berakhir pada pukul 4 pagi itu dilakukan di lapan lokasi sekitar Alor Setar dan di Felda Sungai Tiang, Pendang," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Hasreena berkata seorang daripada warga Indonesia yang ditahan pernah diberkas sebelum ini dan dihantar pulang ke negaranya empat bulan lalu kerana masuk ke negara ini tanpa pas perjalanan dan kali ini ditahan atas kesalahan sama. "Wanita yang berumur 20-an dan berkahwin dengan warga Myanmar itu tidak serik apabila memasuki semula negara ini tanpa membawa sebarang pas perjalanan," katanya.

Bernama