BLEACHING PROGRAMME TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN SABAH, SAYS MINISTER

SANDAKAN (Sabah, Malaysia), June 13 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry is working closely with East Malaysia state of Sabah government to develop a high-technology system to be used in the massive bleaching or pardoning of illegal immigrants in the state, said its minister.

Its minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, said he believed that implementation of the system would address most of the problems pertaining to illegal immigrants in Sabah.

"This borderless world has its own challenges. If we do not strive to use the existing system and technology, I fear that our future security will be uncertain," he told reporters here Sunday.

He said the biometric system to screen foreigners entering the country was also among the high-technology system used by the government.

The absence of this system before, he said, had resulted in forging of documents which enabled the culprits to move freely.

"We learn from experiences and this time, the massive bleaching operation we are going to conduct against illegal immigrants will not adversely affect the economic sector in Sabah," he added.

On the detention of a militant, Agus Salim, 34, by the police in Johor Bahru last Monday, Hishammuddin said investigation by the police revealed that Agus entered the country using a valid passport, but with a different name.

He said Agus entered Malaysia through Bukit Kayu Histam, Kedah, from Bangkok, Thailand.

"If we do not use this system (biometric), the use of forged document using a different name, like in Agus' case, will recur," he added.
-- BERNAMA