Kota Kinabalu: The State Immigration Department is tightening procedures in hiring foreign women for agriculture sector jobs.This follows the discovery of many young foreign women in massage parlours, pubs and karaokes providing the wrong kind of services, and notwithstanding the fact that they should be in the plantations rather than in the cities and towns.
"We will request for a picture of the girl besides a photocopy of her passport. If it shows she is too young and beautiful (for menial work) then we have every reason to reject the application,"
"We will determine how these young foreign females who were hired for plantation sector jobs in the State ended up doing something else in air conditioned rooms, instead.
"I believe this is the work of syndicates," said its Director, Mohamad Mentek. Daily Express understands the syndicates are working with locals and that some Filipinas are behind the whole operation.
It is believed that the syndicate charged between RM3,000 to RM4,500 per work permit.
The modus operandi of the syndicate is simple - they will look for villagers who own agricultural land and, after negotiation, agree on a token fee to be paid to the landowner.
The landowner would provide a certified true copy of his MyKad and land title to the syndicate for the work pass application.
Source said these foreign young girls are willing to pay high fees to these syndicate as long as they could stay and work in Sabah.
"It is because these services bring quick income," he said.
Mohammad said his department would act against anyone, including landowners, who allow their land to be used this way.
