Roadmap needed to solve illegal immigrants issue, says ex- chief sec to the govt

SHAH ALAM - Those who enter the country illegally should face the consequences of Malaysian legal system, says ex-chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali.

“If they are here in the country legally, then they have to be treated fairly and allowed to move freely.

“But if they are here illegally, then they have to be subjected to our laws,” he told Sinar Daily.

He also said entering the country illegally causes long-term consequences to the country as the government will not be able to keep track of the number of illegal immigrants. This comes after 528 Rohingyas detainees fled from the Sungai Bakap Immigration Detention Depot, with six of them killed in the accident at KM168 PLUS.

There is also the possibility of the disease being spread due to the dire living conditions in their home country.

He called on Putrajaya to implement a long-term roadmap to handle the long-standing issue.

“There is the need for an official roadmap with the aim to reduce foreign workers, especially those who crossed our borders illegally,” he said.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the incident happened at about 4.30am.

As of 10am yesterday, 362 detainees were recaptured while the authorities hunt down the remaining detainees.