KUCHING: Efforts to control the border entry points in the state must be enhanced to curb the entry of illegal immigrants.
Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip said the issue of illegal immigrants was not a new thing as the state continues to thwart attempts by foreigners from entering the state illegally.
“We have to fine tune and improve the entry process at the border so that this issue can be controlled. This involved cooperation between the immigration, police and the security forces.
“What we are aware of is that some cases involved having record of entering the state but not exiting. Thus, so many factors should be addressed.
“If we choose to seal our borders to immigrants, it is doable. But what about those who have entered but not exiting the state? We do not know how many of them are out there,” he said in a press conference during a function at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
He stressed that the unavailable data of unregistered foreigners and their whereabouts became an obstacle in handling the issue.
“That is why we need to fine tune the processes and records as well as tighten the control at the border. Otherwise, we are back to square one.
“What we are facing now is that we do not have strict control and we do not have information on the illegal immigrants in the state. In terms of national security, these matters are important.
“Thus, if the immigrants are found to have overstayed and do not have any documents, they must be deported back to their home country.
“This does not mean that we (Sarawak) are the bad guys but we are merely taking precautions for the sake of our national interests,” he pointed out.
