Dato Idris Buang
KUCHING: An intelligence unit overseeing immigration matters must be more proactive and professional in their work to help the police and Immigration Department monitor and track foreigners who abuse their social visit passes.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information chief Dato Idris Buang said this in comment about the arrest of some 700 Chinese nationals during an integrated operation in Cyberjaya, believed to be involved in illegal online gambling activities in the region.
Photographs of the aftermath of the raid were posted on the Malaysia’s Immigration News Update Facebook like page, whereas a national news portal video footage of the press conference about it had gone viral on social media.
The recent crackdown on 680 scammers from China at Cyberjaya was clearly a ‘shocking eye-opener’, said Idris in a press statement received here yesterday.
“These technology-savvy scammers and hackers may also eye Sarawak; they could easily wreak havoc on our systems in both public and private sectorsd.
“If such threats should happen, they would exponentially cause us stupendous losses not only on our economy and businesses, but also on all aspects of our security.
“We need to tighten our immigration and security. Now that we have the coast guards in Sarawak, with auxiliary police, to keep watch on our continental shelves, we equally need our very own Sarawak border rangers to keep watch over our borders. The auxiliary police could be set up under our Land and Survey Department or Forest Department.
“However, equally important is to augment our own immigration intelligence to be even more proactive, practical and professional to complement the police and Immigration Department in monitoring and tracking those who would abuse their entry permit.”
Idris, who is Muara Tuang assemblyman, called upon the Sarawak government to consider strengthening the relevant departments in the state with the right training, system upgrades and empowerment.
“It is high time that Sarawak has its very own independent system and layers of checks and surveillance to ensure that our pathway to progress would be achieved smoothly.
“Those entrusted to safeguard our state security must be equipped with the necessary empowerment in every sense possible, but they must have continuous collaboration with the police and other relevant federal departments,” he added.