Published on: Friday, August 01, 2008 |
Kota Kinabalu: While Malaysians in Sabah are preparing for the Independence Day celebrations during the month of August, the days are numbered for the illegal immigrants in the State.
Come Friday (today), their "independence" will be over. They will no longer be at liberty to play a cat-and-mouse game with the Malaysian authorities - and stay on in Sabah, untouched.
Looming ahead for the elusive illegal immigrants are the nets of widespread operation to round them up for repatriation.
Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Ghani confirmed Thursday that the first integrated massive operation would be launched in the first week of August.
"We will work hand in hand (with other law enforcement agencies) to rid Sabah of illegal immigrants. "For a start, we will concentrate our operations on the west coast of Sabah, especially in the state capital (Kota Kinabalu) before expanding them to the east coast," he said.
Abdul Razak said at least 200 personnel from the police, army, Immigration Department, National Registration Department and Rela would be deployed at any one time during the operation.
"We have already prepared our groundwork, and identified and listed the areas for the operation, including Penampang.
"This time, we plan the operation properly so that every illegal immigrant in Sabah is deported to their country of origin," he said.
The major crackdown is made possible by the Federal Government, which responded positively to the incessant demand of late by state politicians and the people who wanted the problem solved once and for all.
In what is seen as a sigh of relief for the more than three million people in Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced recently that the operation to repatriate between 100,000 and 150,000 illegal immigrants in the state would start in August.
The major crackdown, with an allocation of around RM50 million, is to round up all foreign nationals who are without valid documents.
All segments of the society, especially the locals have welcomed the move, hoping that the problem besetting the state will soon be a thing of the past.
Former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said the move showed the commitment of the federal government to free Sabah of illegal immigrants.
"We hope such a move would bring a ray of hope to the people and the state. This time, the Sabah people really want to see a lasting solution to the problem," he told Bernama.
Salleh, who is United Sabah Bajau Organisation (Usbo) president, suggested that similar operation be implemented on a regular basis to achieve the desired result for the good of the people and the state.- Bernama
