'Not vigilantes' - Putra claims squad targeting migrants can tackle leaks by authorities

Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) which today announced the launch of a squad to "hunt" for undocumented migrants or overstaying tourists, defended the move, maintaining that they are not a vigilante group.

Instead, Putra president Ibrahim Ali likened the squad to the police's Special Branch which he said can work on intelligence and tackle information leaks by the authorities.

"The volunteer group is like informers. If in the police, it's more like the Special Branch.

"We want action to be taken within 24 hours, not three days. Once we lodge a report, we have the record, only then can we ensure effectiveness.

"Because we know in the police, immigration and Rela... there are leaks. I'm not accusing everyone of being bad apples but the major issue in our country is corruption," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said the squad will ensure authorities take their reports seriously.

He stressed that Putra has no intention to interfere with the authorities.

"We are not (being a) busybody at all. If everything went smoothly, we wouldn't interfere," he said.

Ibrahim claimed there were many tourists who overstay their visa.

"Why do they come here and fail to go home? Why is it when tourists go to Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia... they are forced to go home?

"And not as many will go there as much as they come to Malaysia," he said.

Meanwhile, Putra deputy president Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz (bottom, left) said the party has registered 2,012 volunteers and is now waiting for a meeting with the immigration director-general and the inspector-general of police to discuss the squad.

Letters, each to the Immigration Department and the police to request for a meeting, were sent on Dec 23, he said.

The squad members come from different political ideologies but they have joined hands to curb the problem, he said.

Khairul Azam stressed that they are not vigilantes.

"We want to coordinate with authorities so the members are not seen as vigilantes. We won't do anything against the law.

"We have a status as a political party, it's impossible that we will do things against the law," Khairul Azam said.

The squad will have its own database to share with authorities on where the immigrants are hiding, he said.

The amnesty programme for undocumented migrants began from Aug 1 until Dec 31.

The "Back for Good" programme is being carried out by the Immigration Department and open to all migrants who have committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying or remaining in the country without proper documents.

Yesterday, human rights group North-South Initiative cautioned against vigilantism in addressing the issue of undocumented migrants. - Mkini