TAWAU: The Sabah Immigration Department (JIM) is tracking down those responsible for leaking impending raids on illegal immigrants (PTIs) across the state.
Its Director, Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof, said it would collaborate with the Communications Ministry to track down those suspected of spreading classified enforcement information.
“We have already partnered with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to resolve this matter. However, I cannot disclose too much information as it may affect ongoing investigations,” she said.
Saleha said this after leading an Immigration Enforcement Operation (Ops Sapu) at four different locations in Semporna and Tawau, which concluded Friday.
She believes some of these informants are foreign nationals who create WhatsApp groups to disseminate information for their benefit.
“If these individuals are indeed Malaysian citizens, then they are betraying the country by aiding illegal immigrants in evading enforcement officers. This act of treachery compromises national sovereignty,” she said.
Commenting on the latest operation in Tawau and Semporna since Thursday, Saleha said 462 individuals were screened, leading to the detention of 139 for various immigration offences.
“The detainees, aged between one and 72 years old, comprised 53 men, 37 women, and 49 children.
“Their offences included lacking valid identification documents, overstaying and misusing their immigration passes,” she said.
Saleha emphasised JIM Sabah’s commitment to continuous enforcement efforts to detect, arrest, prosecute, and deport foreign nationals who violate the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1996, the Immigration Regulations 1963, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
She warned employers to ensure that their workers possess valid documentation.
“If they knowingly allow PTI to reside on their land or premises, they will be deemed as harbouring,” she said.
JIM Sabah has conducted 254 operations since January, screening 4,723 PTI, arresting 790 individuals, and detaining 32 employers suspected of harbouring illegal immigrants.
Last year, 117 employers were prosecuted and fined for hiring undocumented foreign workers across multiple sectors, including services, agriculture, plantations, industries, and retail.
Employers were also reminded not to withhold their foreign workers’ personal documents, as such practices are deemed exploitative.
JIM Sabah conducted 1,552 operations in 2023, screening 30,400 individuals, arresting 5,948, and deporting 8,844 detainees to their home countries.
