THE Immigration Department arrested 2,467 illegal immigrants (Pati) during the first 10 months of this year. This was an increase from the 2,190 illegal immigrants arrested in 2016, who have been prosecuted, issued with compounds and deported to their country of origin.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the arrests were the result of the Immigration Department’s intensified enforcement operations. He said an immigration post is currently being constructed in Ba Kelalan.
“To address the issue of Pati, an immigration post is in the process of construction and expected to be completed in May 2019 and the integrated post will place security agencies like police; customs; Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism; and Rela (People’s Volunteer Corps),” he told the august House in his winding up speech yesterday.
He said the army would also be deployed within the vicinity to ensure the smooth operations of the immigration post.
Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development said a Customs Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex will be built in both Serikin and Karangas Gayau under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
He added the state government will also install a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system at Kuching International Airport to beef up immigration monitoring.
Uggah also pointed out that the State Security Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department was restructured and renamed State Enforcement and Security Unit in June.
This was in line with its additional functions and roles, which are part of the state government’s initiative to coordinate enforcement and security issues in Sarawak with the federal government.