Brunei Wary Of Influx Of Illegals From Malaysia
By M K Anwar & Lyna Mohamad

Bandar Seri Begawan - The arrest of an Indonesian illegal immigrant, believed to have entered the country through Temburong two months ago, threw open the possibility of such offenders to have entered the Sultanate to escape the crackdown against illegal immigrants in Malaysia.

The illegal immigrant was among 15 foreigners, who were rounded up during an operation codenamed 'Ops Basmi 20' Tuesday night.

Out of the 15 that were detained, seven were released the same night while the remaining eight were remanded at the Bandar Police Station and were taken to the enforcement office for further screening yesterday morning.

The operation involved 30 enforcement personnel headed by Awg Jumaat Hj Burut, Senior Chief Immigration Officer.

They raided eight areas and the operation lasted well after midnight.

Divided into two teams, the raiding party targeted rented houses in Kg Madang, Serasa, Delima 1, Anggerek Desa, foreigners' staff quarters in Kg Sg Hanching, rented rooms in Muara town and in Jln Kumbang Pasang. Most of these areas are believed to be favourite hideouts for immigration violators.

The Indonesian man tried to escape from the law enforcers but was spotted by the vigilant officers.

He was found to have entered the country illegally through Temburong more than two months ago.

The time he chose to enter Brunei was close to the end of the Malaysian amnesty to illegal immigrants, which suggested that there could be a possibility that he might have fled the country to escape authorities there.

A Filipino was also found to have overstayed in the country since his special pass expired November 7, 2003.

Another foreigner, an Indian, too was found to have violated the Immigration Act for staying in the country after the expiry of his work pass on March 20, 2004.

Meanwhile, another Indonesian is likely to be charged under Section 55 (1) (c), Immigration Act, if he is found guilty of harbouring his countryman detained in the raid.

He has been issued with a special pass requiring him to report to the enforcement office today for further investigation.

The detained Indonesian will be prosecuted under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act for entering the country illegally.

All the remaining foreign workers were released yesterday afternoon after their employers came with their passports and other relevant documents.

SCIO Awg Jumaat Hj Burut again advised employers to provide copies of relevant documents to their employees to avoid inconveniences to both parties during raid operations.

He thanked the public for the outstanding support and hoped the cooperation would sustain to help them curb such illegal activities in the country.

Reports on illegal activities can be made by directly going to the enforcement office or through hotline numbers 2383555 or 2383777, the senior law enforcer said.

Callers' identities will be kept strictly confidential, he added. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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