POLICE, IMMIGRATION DEPT TOLD TO SUBMIT REPORTS ON DR PORNTHIP'S CLAIMS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- The police and Immigration Department
have been asked to submit complete reports pertaining to claims made by Thai
pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand that she was pressured to withdraw from the
Teoh Beng Hock murder inquest and that she feared for her safety in Malaysia.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the claims implicated the
two government agencies, hence they must clarified the matter.

"I also urge that Dr Pornthip provide more information with regard to both
claims so that we can conduct a thorough investigation as I have nothing to
hide," he told reporters at the parliament lobby when asked about Dr Pornthip's
claims.

Hishammuddin said he expected to make the public announcement soon after
receiving the reports in a day or two.

"Let me scrutinise the claims and the reports. Everyone has rights but the
proper procedures must be followed. If an offence has been committed, we will
deal with it according to the procedures."



On Dr Pornthip's fear for her safety if she were in Malaysia, Hishammuddin
said the government assured the safety protection of every individual who
entered the country regardless of his/her status.

"Whoever steps into this country, it is the government's responsibility to
ensure their safety. If their fears are real, they can come to us and we will
assist them but they must provide us with complete information and facts."

Asked on the claim by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress that more than
150,000 foreign workers could not go home after their visas had expired because
their employers were holding on to their passports, Hishammuddin said the
problem was due to lack of monitoring.

He said while employers were not allowed to hold on to their foreign
workers' passports, many of these workers also ran away from their employers
even without their passports.

Hishammuddin said it was also difficult to ascertain the actual number of
stranded foreign workers in this country as there were those who entered
illegally and those who came in legally and then overstayed.

He said a more accurate figure could be obtained in future through
integrated efforts involving eight ministries and 15 government agencies which
would facilitate screening of foreign workers, monitoring and enforcement if
they needed to be sent back to their country of origin.

-- BERNAMA



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