Brunei On Alert To Catch Illegal Immigrants From Malaysia
By M K Anwar & Lyna Mohammad

Bandar Seri Begawan - The local immigration authorities are increasing their operations in anticipation of a possible influx of illegal immigrants who may flee from Malaysia and try to sneak into the Sultanate.

The move by Brunei follows the expiry of a Malaysian amnesty for the millions of illegal foreign workers there to leave that country.

Offenders failing to do so would face stiff punishment, including caning and deportation.

Awg Jumaat bin Hj Burut, Senior Chief Immigration Officer, said there were concerns that the foreign fugitives, who include Indonesians and Filipinos, in Malaysia may try to escape to Brunei, especially from neighbouring Malaysian states such as Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan island.

In view of this, the Brunei Immigration Enforcement Unit will increase its raids and surveillance covering both land and sea, operating on its own as well as jointly with other law enforcement agencies.

Awg Jumaat was speaking after leading 25 Immigration Enforcement personnel on a raid Monday night which netted a foreign worker, who was reported to have run away from his employer and two overstayers. The raid was part of the Immigration 'Ops Basmi 14'.

He said that following the expiry of the amnesty for illegal immigrants in Malaysia, the Malaysian immigration authorities have launched a series of operations to track down the illegal immigrants still staying in that country.

He noted that the penalty for illegal immigration offences in Brunei carries a minimum of three strokes of the cane compared to Malaysia's minimum of one stroke of the cane.

Though the severe penalty awaits immigration offenders here and is likely to deter the would-be offenders from coming to the Sultanate, the Brunei immigration authorities will increase its operations and hunt for any such offenders fleeing into the country from Malaysia.

Meanwhile, seven areas were targeted during the latest raid on Monday in Kg Jerudong, Kilanas, Mulaut, Kg Kiulap, Menglait and Kg Lambak.

Ten foreign workers, including a woman, were brought to the BSB police station after they failed upon request by the enforcement personnel to show valid travel documents.

As usual, their papers were found to have been kept by their employers.

Further screening found that three of the foreigners were overstaying in the country.

Shamiur Rahman, a Bangladeshi, was caught at a rented house in Kg Lubok Sigurun Mulaut. His immigration pass had expired in April 2004.

A Indian national, Perumd Ramesh, caught in Kg Mulaut Kilanas was found to have a work permit that expired on August 25, 2004. He was also reported to have run away from the company that employed him.

The two faced a charge under the Immigration Act. If found guilty, they can be jailed for not less than three months but not more than two years and receive three strokes of the cane.

Another Bangladeshi, Abul Hossain Late Abdul Hakim, was found to have a work pass that expired on February 20, 2005.

He was caught in Kg Mulaut Kilanas together with Perumd Ramesh. However, he was only asked to pay a compound fine.

Seven other foreign workers were released yesterday after their employers came with their passports and immigration documents. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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