KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry had spent up to RM29.611 million in handling issues of illegal immigrants, such as the cost of raids and investigations, cost of meals in detention depots and repatriation, the Parliament was told today.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this in response to a question by Pasir Gudang MP Normala Abdul Samad, who also asked on measures taken by the ministry to reduce expenses.
"We have been constantly in discussion with involved embassies to hasten the repatriation process of their citizens back to their country of origin. By right, the immigrants are only detained for four months after which they are repatriated.
"Even so, due to some having to go through complications regarding documentation from their country, they may be forced to be detained up to eight months," he said.
When asked about 'jalan tikus' or the country's porous borders especially in northern states and in Sabah and Sarawak, Wan Junaidi was quick to say it was due to the illegal immigrants wanting to find a better life for themselves away from home.
"As long as there is sugar, ants will come. The ministry is discussing with the National Security Council to build a secure wall or barricade that will stop them from easily entering the country.
"We are coming up with the mechanisms but our main constraint is the high cost of building it, although it is very important and necessary," he said.