Recently, a total of 200 foreigners were checked at ‘hotspot’ locations across Selangor in ‘Ops Omnipresent’ by the Selangor Immigration Department in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
Following the crackdown, former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim took to Facebook to criticise the Immigration Department for preventing foreign workers from enjoying the festive season.
Former Law Minister questions the timing of enforcement
Expressing his disapproval, Zaid wrote:
“Why are immigration officers going around catching undocumented foreigners during Hari Raya? They are proud to tell us they have rounded up more than 200 people at bus stations, railway terminals, and shopping malls.”
“Immigration must know that there are thousands, maybe millions, of such workers. They are in the country because of a corrupt system. Yet, they start rounding them up on the eve of Aidilfitri? Can’t you wait? Can’t these enforcement officers give these workers a few days to enjoy themselves? They are already without their families, and all they have are a few friends to share the festive season with. Can’t we give them that?”
Focus on dismantling the “corrupt system” instead
Zaid went on to sarcastically suggest that authorities should allow even more undocumented workers to enter Malaysia in preparation for next year’s operations.
“Maybe our Minister of Immigration (Home Affairs Minister) and the Director-General don’t really care. They are busy enjoying the Hari Raya celebrations at the Istana and places like that,” he remarked.
“Perhaps they should let more of these workers in without papers so that next year, even more can be arrested and rounded up. There could be money to be made in the exercise. The cycle continues,” he added.
Datuk zaid ibrahim
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