No politician, insider involved in illegal immigrant issue

The Immigration Department today confirmed that investigations on illegal immigrants entering the country are not linked to any politician or anyone within the department.

Immigration Deputy Director-General (Control Division) Datuk Sakib Kusmi said illegal immigrants were brought in by illegal agents through rat routes.

He said rat routes used by these immigrants were not gazetted as entrances controlled by the department.

"Rat routes are out of our jurisdiction because they are controlled by other enforcement agencies like the army, police, anti-smuggling unit and special action unit," he told Bernama.

Sakib also emphasised that there was no proof yet linking politicians or an insider to the issue.

"However, if it's proven, they can be arrested and investigated according to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Amendment 2010) (ATIP SOM).

He said this when asked to comment on allegations that politicians and insiders were involved in the issue regarding illegal immigrants, especially the influx in Cameron Highlands, Pahang.

Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 451 employers and 26,785 illegal immigrants were detained from January to Nov 17 this year in 4,893 operations carried out by the department nationwide.

Ahmad Zahid also said the operation to hunt down illegal immigrants were done consistently to eliminate the problem.

Sakib said they would obtain personal data of the illegal immigrants for a biometric system to ensure those who were deported did not re-enter the country.

"The biometric system is able to detect and ascertain their re-entry, but if these illegal immigrants use an entrance that is not gazetted then it will be hard to catch them," he added.