Enforcement personnel seen with illegal immigrants caught trying to enter the country through an illegal entry route recently.
KUCHING (June 22): A total of 572 illegal immigrants were arrested and deported while trying to enter the state through the various illegal entry routes along the Sarawak-Indonesia border during the first six months of this year.
Sarawak Border Security Committee chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing attributed this success to the cooperation of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) with other enforcement agencies such as the General Operations Force (PGA), the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Sarawak Immigration Department.
The Deputy Chief Minister added that through the cooperation, an integrated operation to curb the entry of illegal immigrants into Sarawak by road was carried out.
“According to Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner, DCP Mancha Ata, in the first six months from January to June 2021 through operations by the PGA and Sarawak Police, a total of 572 illegal immigrants were arrested at the Sarawak Indonesia border (trying to enter the state) through rat routes,” said Masing in a statement yesterday.
Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, said during the same period, a total of 45 local and foreign tekong (agents) were arrested under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Aptisom) 2007.
He explained that arrests and deportations were made under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).
In this regard, he stressed, the authorities called on the public who have any information about the entry of illegal immigrants into Sarawak to cooperate and contact the authorities.
Masing also reminded all Sarawakians that hiding and providing protection to illegal immigrants is a serious crime.