KOTA KINABALU: Caning would be a good deterrent to keep employers from hiring or harbouring six or more illegal foreign workers, says Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.

He said caning was provided for under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for those employing six or more illegal immigrants.

Our record shows that over the past two years only three employers have been ordered to be caned from the 1,400 employers charged in courts,” Mustafar told reporters here after attending the Sabah Immigration Department monthly gathering on Friday (Dec 28).

“Some people say that caning could be seen as a cruel action, but if we look at it from a security and sovereignty (point of view), the Immigration Department cannot compromise on such a matter,” he added.

Mustafar said other countries also had provisions for mandatory caning as a deterrent against employers who hire illegal immigrants, as well as illegal immigrants who are repeat offenders.  

Mustafar said caning immigration offenders had a positive effect on controlling illegal immigrant problems in other countries.

“This is a issue of sovereignty and security. We feel that the provisions of the law should be used to send a clear message to the such employers hiring illegals.

He added that that a total of 27,000 people were screened during 1,371 operations in Sabah this year.

They detained 4,800 of them and 62 employers were also arrested during operations in the state in 2018.

He added that 47,000 illegal immigrants were arrested nationwide in some 14,500 operations and that approximately190,000 people this year were screened this year.

He said 1,400 employers had been charged in court and some their cases had been decided while others were still in progress.