Illegals with guns a worrying trend

[OneStepCloser]

Published: Monday October 14, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Monday October 14, 2013 MYT 7:50:06 AM

Illegals with guns a worrying trend

BY FARIK ZOLKEPLI

PETALING JAYA: Immigration Department enforcement officers have been put on alert following incidents of illegal immigrants using firearms to avoid capture.

Previously, some illegals brandished knives and parang at enforcement officers who were flushing out unwanted foreigners under the operation codenamed Ops 6P Bersepadu, but now they have pistols.

The most recent incident was in Negri Sembilan last month, where a foreigner pulled out a pistol when confronted by enforcement officers during a raid at a construction site.

Immigration director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said it was a miracle that none of his men had been killed or seriously hurt during the nationwide operations.

The raids are mostly on the living quarters of foreign workers and entertainment outlets.

“These operations have become more dangerous because there is now an element of retaliation by the illegals,” Alias said.

“Athough we know some illegals may be involved in crime in their countries and even here, we are still surprised to see firearms among the items we seize during raids on rumah kongsi and other premises.”

In the Negri Sembilan incident, Alias said the illegal immigrant escaped after he threatened the enforcement team with the pistol.

“The other illegals ran away but this one pointed the weapon at my men at very close range.

“Our officers had to back off and the gunman managed to flee,” he said.

“Gone are the days when we could expect little resistance from the illegals ... the most they would do then was run and hide, and the more aggressive ones would be armed only with parang or knives.”

Alias has since instructed all his personnel to conduct checks in groups and to be well armed.

He said the move was also necessary following the death of a policeman in Malacca.

The officer was bludgeoned to death by a suspect, armed with a brick, during a raid under Ops Cantas Khas recently.

Some 7,300 illegals have been detained in the 640 operations conducted around the country so far, since Ops 6P Bersepadu started on Sept 1.

Indonesians make up the highest number of those nabbed at this point, followed by Myanmar, Bang*ladesh and Nepal nationals.

“We checked 23,000 foreigners in various rumah kongsi, workers hostels and entertainment outlets,” Alias said, adding that 12,000 Immigration personnel were involved in the operations.