Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.
KUCHING: As of Friday, Sarawak Immigration Department has arrested 4,261 illegal immigrants of various nationalities in ‘Ops Mega 3.0’ since the operation was launched on July 1.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said 82 employers were also detained during the operations for employing or protecting illegals.
“The arrest was the result of 1,506 operations carried out throughout Sarawak since ‘Ops Mega’ was launched and a total of 16,988 foreign workers working in various sectors were examined.
“The Immigration Department has given the opportunity to the illegal immigrants to surrender voluntarily for deportation to their country of origins, and if they still remain here then action will be taken.
This is a step in ensuring our country is free from the illegal immigrants,” he said.
He said this in a press conference in conjunction with the special meeting of the 2018 permit application at the Immigration Department office at Tuanku Haji Bujang Building here yesterday.
Mustafar added, there was no barrier to employers who want to employ foreign workers but they must apply for valid foreign worker visa. — Bernama