Kota Kinabalu: Three Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) checkpoints were opened in Sabah, Monday, in Lahad Datu, Kudat and Pulau Bangi.
The initiative followed the Prime Minister's announcement on the setting up of Esscom a month ago. Immigration Department Director-General Datuk Alias Ahmad said this would make it easier for foreigners, particularly from the Philippines, to enter Sabah only through valid entry points.
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"Under the Immigration Act every foreigner who lands on Malaysian shores must report himself to the nearest immigration check point," he told a press conference.
"We cannot stop bona fide visitors, but without any facilities they are forced to enter through illegal points and we cannot blame them because we did not provide sufficient facilities for legal entry.
"Our country is developed and we are moving forward but at the same time we must also look into the security of our border control and national security as well particularly since Sabah's East Coast border is connected with the Philippines. Based on intelligence information, Sandakan alone has about 32 illegal entry points and there might be many more illegal entry points along the State's 1,400km coastline," he said, adding that legal sea entry points were previously only available in Tawau, Semporna and Sandakan.
"With the vast coastline, we feel that as a free country with sovereignty and laws, we must open more legal sea entry points. Thus, effective today, all foreigners entering Sabah via sea should enter through these legal entry points. "It becomes an offence if they fail to abide by it.
This, he said, applies for Cargo ships, Cruise Ships, Sail boats, private or family owned boats and barter traders which already have existing jetties for barter trade purpose.
"For barter traders, we have enforced that every crew and owner of the barter trade must have valid documents travel document before entering our country and we will issue them with landing pass or social visit pass as foreigners," he said.
He said they are looking at adding more immigration personnel as part of the future planning but for now they will re-deploy existing officers in Sabah to man the three new ICQS.
On the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), Alias said immigration enforcement in Malaysian waters would be handled by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Marine Operations Force and the Navy who would ensure that visitors coming in any vessel must enter the country only through valid entry points.
He added that the department had relayed the opening of the new ICQS to the Philippine government through the Foreign Ministry two weeks ago. He said the Immigration Department had two weeks ago informed the Philippine Government through Wisma Putra on the decision to open new entry points and that Filipino Nationals travelling to Sabah must have valid travel documents.
On a question, he said, they do not have the statistics on the number of vessels and private boats, but a big number can be seen ferrying people on a daily basis.
"But I can say for barter traders there are about 1,800 barter trade vessels or ships last year involving 18,000 crew without documents and identification documents coming to Malaysia for barter trade.
"This is against our immigration law and that's why for the basic security measure, any person who enters Malaysia must have proper travel documents either their International Passport or Seaman Book.
"This is an international practice and if the vessel is registered with any shipping company they must also have that," he said, adding that the Immigration Department accept Seaman Book in lieu of passport for seafarers.
Our country is a sovereign country with laws and we must abide to the international laws as well as our country's law.
"In terms of Immigration Act, every foreigner who land on our shores must report to the Immigration Department, even if they land at wrong entry points, they must look for an immigration office to prove the validity of their entry.
He also the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) is a designated area security area and Esscom manages Esszone.
On who will be the new State Immigration Director, he said, they are getting candidates for the post and he would discus with the Public Service Department and the Chief Minister on the issue. Also present was the State Immigration Department Deputy (Management Services Sector) Nik Mohd Azrul Abdul Ghafar and Deputy (Immigration Control Affairs) Ismail Ali.
