46,020 illegal immigrants screened in 1,821 operations under Ops 6P - Wan Junaidi

A total of 46,020 illegal immigrants (PATI) were screened in 1,821 operations under the 6P Integrated Ops crackdown from Sept 1 to Dec 4, said Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said of the total, the largest number arrested were 5,218 Indonesians, followed by 2,243 Myanmar nationals, 977 Nepalis and 898 Filipinos.

The operations were conducted at 'kongsi' quarters, business premises, restaurants, massage parlours, entertainment centres, construction sites, markets, factories and other areas.

"Of the total number of illegals screened, 13,959 were arrested for various offences under the Immigration Acts 1959 and 1963, the Passport Act 1966 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.

"A total of 179 employers were arrested on suspicion of employing or harbouring illegal immigrants," he said in reply to a question by Ng Wei Aik (DAP-Tanjong) in Dewan Rakyat here, Thursday.

Wan Junaidi said so far, about 799 illegal immigrants had been charged in court, 101 compounded, 2,873 were deported to their country of origin, 2,280 released while 7,906 were still under investigation.

He added that illegal immigrants who can prove they were cheated by certain parties to bring them to Malaysia would be released.