TAWAU, 5 Nov 2017:
The Sabah Immigration Department has detected that some illegal immigrants are using ‘blank passports’ – which have been issued by their respective embassies or consulates, but their departure and entry into the country are not recorded.
Director Musa Sulaiman said although such cases were not considered to be serious, the department would not take the matter lightly.
“There are people employing these foreign workers who are holding such passports issued by the embassies or consulates but these workers have entered the country illegally.
“The Sabah Immigration Department will not condone with violation of legal procedures or practices which disrupt national sovereignty, including the use of blank passports.”
Musa stressed that only those with valid documents from the Malaysian authority could stay and seek employment in the state.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) is keen to see a decision made to resolve the issue of the status of children of illegal immigrants born in Sabah.
Commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali yesterday urged NGOs to make proposals or submit memorandums to resolve the issue and said ESSCom would provide support.
He spoke at an ESSCom dialogue with the Sabah Immigration Department and the Tawau Chinese Association here.
Hazani said the federal and state governments emphasised the security issue in Sabah and had stationed 10,000 security personnel and assets valued at RM100 million in the state.
– Bernama