KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui has advised employers not to hire illegal foreign worker, or else their assets would be frozen and confiscated by the government.
He said the government had begun taking action against employers who hired illegal foreign workers since Oct 1 this year, as well as seized or froze the employers’ bank accounts and assets.
“This is a very severe punishment. I urge all employers not to break the law or take the risk of recruiting illegal foreign workers.
“Employers should only hire legal workers to avoid legal punishment,” Lui said in a press statement yesterday as Immigration Department director general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali reiterated that the department would take stern action against companies who employed illegal workers, including freezing their assets.
Once convicted in court, Mustafar said the frozen assets of the employers would be confiscated by the government.
However, Lui was perplexed as to the reason why Mustafar said employers were not allowed to hire IMM13 document holders because Malaysia did not recognise the refugees.
“To our understanding, IMM13 document holders in Sabah are free to work in the state for many years.”
Hence, he hoped that the Immigration Department would clarify this matter.
He said the shortage of foreign labour would inevitably affect the state’s economy.
As such, Lui once again urged the state government to be proactive in resolving the issue of illegal immigrants and illegal workers in Sabah.
“Now is the best time for us to request the dederal government to resolve the longstanding illegal immigrant issue in Sabah.
“We have to resolve this issue through the state’s autonomous powers in immigration.”
Lui added that the priority should be legalising the illegal immigrants in Sabah by issuing valid working permits to those without criminal records and had been staying in the State for years.
At the same time, Lui said the government should take stern action and expel suspicious illegal immigrants and those with criminal records from the State.
“This is a win-win situation to enhance our state’s security and ensure that the foreign labourers working here are legal.”