KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — The Immigration Department has defended its detention of illegal workers that left a food court in Putrajaya crippled, saying affected employers should know better than to staff their outlets with unauthorised aliens.
Responding to a report on the aftermath of the crackdown in which it arrested 262 workers of various nationalities, the department insisted that it had repeatedly issued warnings that the hiring of illegal migrant workers was a serious offence.
It further pointed out that the employment of certain nationalities for frontline roles was expressly forbidden, but that this rule was flagrantly violated by employers.
“The Immigration Department should not be faulted for faithfully performing the duties with which it has been entrusted; instead, employers should be mature and informed enough to realise their offences merited enforcement and punishment,” Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Sakib Kusmi said in a statement.
“The Immigration Department also will not stop at arresting the migrants, as the department will investigate every case fully. The respective employers will also face resultant legal action as provided for by the Immigration Act.”
He reminded firms that the government was currently conducting a rehiring programme in which migrant workers may be legally registered, and urged them to take the opportunity to ensure all their employees were properly documented as the enforcement against illegal foreign workers will continue.
On Friday, Malay Mail reported that a food court at IOI City Mall was virtually paralysed after the department rounded up 262 illegal workers for a raft of offences under the Immigration Act.
Fellow workers had criticised the action, saying that it had inconvenienced them and customers.
They also said the department should have fined the employers instead of detaining the illegal workers.
