KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department will weed out irresponsible agents and middlemen who are responsible for bringing in illegal immigrants into the country.
Its director-general Datuk Mustafa Ibrahim said those involved in employing or harbouring immigrants illegally should surrender themselves before the amnesty programme ends on Dec 31.
“The employers should voluntarily hand over these immigrants to the Immigration … their punishment will be reduced to a fine or the immigrants will be repatriated to their country of origin,” he told reporters after an Integrated Ops here in Sentul Raya, Tuesday.
On Monday, 178 foreigners were screened in an operation which lasted for two hours beginning 9pm.
The operation involved officers and members from the Immigration Department, Malaysia Civil Defence Department (JPAM) and the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA).
Of those screened, 53 were remanded under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying.
“Those remanded comprised 35 Indonesians, 16 Bangladeshis, one from Myanmar and an Indian,” Mustafa added. – Bernama