6P scam: Zahid warns insiders of stern action

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi warned today that tough action will be taken on against ministry who are found to be involved in the 6P programme scam.

"What happened at the Home Ministry and also the Immigration Department, whether the forged documents were taken out by insiders or company operators, if it is not done legally, legal action will be taken," Zahid told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Malaysiakini reported last Fridaythat shell companies that cheated immigrants under the 6P amnesty programme were able to produce documents with Home Ministry letterheads and signatures as well as the Immigration Department's registration slips.

Zahid reiterated that those who were cheated would be given a chance to re-register themselves under the amnesty programme.

"An injustice has happened to the immigrants and I know they have had to fork out a lot of money to work in Malaysia.

"To be fair, if there is evidence that they (immigrants) paid money to the errant companies or that the companies had collaborated with ministry officers, tough action will be taken (against the companies)," he said.

'Investigation ongoing'

Pressed on the status of the investigation into the scam, Zahid declined to reveal any information.

However, he said that details, including the identity of the errant companies, would be revealed when the matter is taken to court.

"We will make an announcement after we commence legal action. We cannot do it now," he said.

On another development, Zahid said the government has enough detention centres to accommodate the large number of detainees from the crackdown against secret societies and illegal immigrants.

"We will be catching more and more people and this (space for detainees) is an administrative issue.

"I can gazette more locations and in fact I have signed the gazette. It's our administrative issue, so don't worry," he said.

Zahid said he has gazetted more than 10 new detention centres to hold those detained in the crackdown operations.