KOTA KINABALU, 27 Oct 2009: Abuse and corruption cases involving illegal immigrants in Sabah are not serious, despite the negative perception by the public towards the agencies involved, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said.
He said Malaysia’s prosperity and political stability had prompted foreigners, especially those from neighbouring countries, to come to the country to make a living. According to him, there were an estimated 1.7 million foreigners in Sabah alone.
He said measures had been taken by the relevant authorities to curb the presence of illegal immigrants in the country. These included operations to detain and deport them to their countries of origin, and stepping up patrol at entry points and along the border.
“However, illegal immigrants continue to enter the country, and this situations create a negative perception among local residents that they (illegal immigrants) are protected by the enforcement agencies,” he said at the closing of an anti-corruption seminar here today.
The seminar was attended by about 60 participants from various enforcement agencies, including the National Registration Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
Ahmad also said the efforts to curb corruption had been effective, with more people detained for offering bribes, as opposed to enforcement officers who accepted the bribes.
“This shows an awareness among government officers on the dangers of corruption, and among the public for lodging reports,” he added.
On a question pertaining to forged documents obtained by illegal immigrants, he said it did not involve participation of officers from the National Registration Department. — Bernama
Eskay says
To the MACC, no crime is really serious.
Corruption, mismanagement of the nation’s finances, forging of false documents to obtain MyKad by illegal immigrants, stealing and even Mat Rempit.
Really don’t know what is serious to MACC. Maybe to keep Barisan in power. No?
megabigBLUR says
What do you mean “not serious” when a bunch of immigration officers were caught as part of a human trafficking ring?
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/32853-five-immigration-officers-held-for-human-trafficking-
Harapkan pagar…
meena lakshana says
I don’t know whether to laugh or yell at the computer screen right now. I CANNOT believe he is the chief commissioner. You’d think the MACC would have hired someone rational enough to understand the issues concerning illegal immigrants. We don’t even recognise them as asylum seekers! They are here for a better life, just like many Malaysians who have settled in Australia, England, the US, etc. And we should be able to provide them the opportunity, considering “Malaysia’s prosperity and political stability”.