979 illegals arrested in joint operation in Cameron Highlands

A total of 979 illegal foreign immigrants were arrested in a special integrated operation in Cameron Highlands between last Dec 4 and 31.

Immigration director-general Datuk Mustafa Ibrahim said the arrested illegals were then sent to the detention depots for further investigation and some of them had been repartriated to their countries of origin.

He said the operation would not be conducted seasonally but continuously to track down the illegals who were trying to hide or flee to other areas.

Mustafa was speaking to reporters after officially opening the Cameron Highlands Immigration branch office, here, Tuesday.

He said the Immigration authority would continue with intelligence work to monitor the developments involving illegals in Cameron Highlands and this would also involve other enforcement agencies like the police and Civil Defence Department.

Meanwhile, Mustafa regarded earlier media reports on the influx of about 30,000 illegals in the highlands as ridiculous and until today, the claims had not been proven.

"Our operations have also not shown the claims to be true while the number of illegals arrested here so far is much smaller than that claimed in the media reports.

"There had been claims that the illegals had fled to the Lojing Highlands or to Tapah but when we conducted our operations there, there were not many of them at these places.

"I hope the media will be more careful with their reports on any issue," he said.

On the Cameron Highlands Immigration branch office, Mustafa said it would ease the residents and employers in seeking Immigration services as previously they had to go to Ipoh and Kuantan to do so.