Sarawak DCM warns of stern action against migrant smugglers

 

COVID-19 | Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Masing today warned stern action against locals found to act as middlemen aiding entry of undocumented migrants from Indonesia, risking possible new Covid-19 clusters in the state.

"We take the actions of these irresponsible people seriously, and we will throw the book at them without hesitation," Masing was quoted as saying by The Malay Mail.

Masing, as head of Sarawak Disaster Management Committee subcommittee on border security, said the state government is aware of the high number of Covid-19 infections across Indonesia, including Kalimantan at its border.

Given the serious threat to Sarawak, Masing reportedly said the border committee has ordered for all the entry points along the border with Kalimantan to close until Dec 31.

"We have tried our best to seal our border, but some Indonesian illegal immigrants with positive Covid-19, did manage to sneak in with the assistance of locals," he was quoted as saying.

He reportedly said this in response to a statement issued by DAP Serian chairperson Brolin Nicholsion, that undocumented migrants from Indonesia are being smuggled into Sarawak through Serian with the help of locals.

According to The Malay Mail, Nicholsion, who is also Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen's political assistant, had urged the state government to beef up security at the state's border, especially in Serian to prevent the entry of undocumented migrants.

"There are some reports from the people of Serian to DAP Serian that there are still illegal movements beyond the border through uncharted routes.

"Some had claimed that illegal immigrants were smuggled in by locals who were suspected of having been paid handsomely," claimed Nicholsion.

In the Peninsular, Putrajaya had since earlier stages of the Covid-19 pandemic launched the multi-agency "Ops Benteng" to crack down on attempts by undocumented migrants to enter or leave the country.

A total of 23 undocumented migrants and three smugglers were detained while five boats and five land vehicles were seized yesterday, according to Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in his daily Covid-19 update press conference. - Mkini