Six charged with engaging foreign workers

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Mohd Zulfikar (centre) speaking to reporters during a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly Complex yesterday. Also seen are state Immigration Department enforcement chief Garry Belayong John Sikie (left) and head of communications and corporate unit Kadir Sapian.

Mohd Zulfikar (centre) speaking to reporters during a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly Complex yesterday. Also seen are state Immigration Department enforcement chief Garry Belayong John Sikie (left) and head of communications and corporate unit Kadir Sapian.

KUCHING: As of November this year, six local employers have been charged with giving shelter and engaging foreign workers without proper work permits.

Revealing to a press conference on the sidelines of the State Assembly meeting yesterday that five employers were arrested for a similar offence last year, state Immigration director Datuk Mohd Zulfikar Ahmad said “these employers were also being blacklisted from employing any foreign workers”.

He also revealed that until November this year, the department had carried out 469 operations during which 16,501 workers were inspected.

“Out of these 16,501 workers, 1,863 of them were found to be illegal immigrants. Six locals were also arrested, as they were suspected of being involved in various immigration related offences in Sarawak,” said Mohd Zulfikar.

Comparatively, he said 234 operations were carried out by the department last year during which 4,653 persons were inspected and 1,588 of them were found to be foreigners working without permits and for various offences under Immigration Act 1959/1963 (Act 155), Immigration Regulations 1963 and Passports Act 1966 (Act 150).

“Despite the beefed-up efforts to rid the state of illegal immigrants, there are still many in the state overstaying after their documents expired or entering the state through the porous borders or working here without permits.

“Presently, we estimate that there are still about 30,000 illegal foreigners in the state especially in the plantation sector. It is a big challenge for us to address the situation because these plantations are huge and they are located in very rural areas,” he pointed out.

He said currently there were 496 illegal immigrants detained at Semuja Detention Depot in Serian and Bekenu Detention Depot in Miri who were awaiting trial and subsequent deportation to their respective countries if convicted.

Both detention depots can accommodate up to 1,000 inmates.

Last year, as many as 2,410 illegal immigrants were deported back to their respective countries and this year, 2,912 had been convicted and deported.

Meanwhile, Mohd Zulfikar also announced that this year’s national level Immigration Day Celebrations would be held in Miri on December 19 which Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is expected to officiate.

“This is the first time the function is held outside Putrajaya Immigration headquarters. It is Sarawak’s honour to hold the function.

“During the function, the Malaysian Immigration Department Strategic Plan and Code of Ethics will be launched. There will also be the presentation of Immigrations Tokoh Awards 2015,” added Mohd Zulfikar.