PUTRAJAYA, Sept 11- The Home Ministry would take stern action against any enforcement personnel involved in extorting money from foreign workers, warned its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said he had received verbal complaints from employers about members of enforcement agencies involved in the implementation of the 6P amnesty programme, extorting or forcing foreign immigrants they stopped to give them money.
“They were taking advantage of the foreign workers they detained through the 6P operation although some of these foreigners have complete and valid documents.”
Ahmad Zahid said this at a news conference after receiving a courtesy call from Myanmar’s Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, U Aye Myint at his office, here, on Tuesday.
Also present was Malaysia Immigration director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad.
“We will take appropriate action against any enforcement agency member, whether he is from the police, Immigration Department or Rela if found to have committed the offence,” Ahmad Zahid said.
“However, we cannot act yet as there have been no official complaints lodged complete with the name of the alleged offender, the location, date and time of the extortion incident or any other proof.
“I urge that the victims or their employers report the incident to the home ministry immediately when it happens,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur would establish a one-stop centre manned by the embassy staff to handle the documentation for Myanmar illegals to enable them to continue working in Malaysia.
Minister Aye Myint had told him that the Myanmar government agreed to set up the one-stop centre to reduce the workload of the Malaysian Immigration Department in dealing with illegal immigrants from Myanmar.
However, the date for establishing the one-stop centre has not been set.
Ahmad Zahid said that according to the Home Ministry’s records, there were 257,000 Myanmar workers in Malaysia, but with only 113,000 of them having valid documents.
“The Myanmar embassy’s cooperation in this matter will help reduce the number of illegal immigrants in Malaysia which is large at the moment,” he added.
In the 6P operation being carried out, the Home Ministry has found that some of the Myanmar nationals possess fake UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) cards and not recognised by the United Nations.
“These people have been duped by irresponsible parties and this has landed them with various problems,” said Ahmad Zahid.
“But on humanitarian grounds and in the Asean spirit, the Malaysia Immigration Department is seeking the best solution through the legal process so that these Myanmar nationals can work legally in Malaysia.”
Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia, meanwhile, was facing a shortage of workers in the services, manufacturing and construction industries, and in the agriculture and other sectors.
– BERNAMA
