MALAYSIA'S security environment is becoming more challenging and illegal immigration is the menace that is currently high on the National Task Force's (NTF) list.
To address the national security threat, the NTF was set up under the auspices of the National Security Council to coordinate efforts. This involves the armed forces, Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Immigration Department and other government agencies.
The NTF has an additional task in ensuring the nation's buy-in. From May to Aug 25, the NTF arrested 3,965 illegal immigrants and 670 agents (tekong), who abetted the illegal immigrants. The task force has contributed to eradicating smuggling along the nation's borders. To date, it has foiled 193 smuggling attempts and confiscated RM43 million worth of items, including more than RM10 million in drugs.
"Rat trails" and landing points used by illegal immigrants have been identified and are being monitored 24/7. The most popular areas are Johor, Selangor, Kelantan and Kedah, especially Langkawi. Most of them have plantations and agricultural estates, which provide temporary hideouts or staging points.
Langkawi is different. The Rohingya, who had established a colony in Bukit Malut, serve as the pull factor for illegals from Myanmar and Bangladesh. The information from the "residents" about their safe and secure lifestyle attracts such migrants.
The additional layers of security have foiled numerous illegal border-crossing attempts. Among them were small boats carrying illegal migrants, which took advantage of the passage used by merchant ships in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
In ensuring the borders are safe from penetration, 718 officers and 11,986 people of other ranks from the nation's security forces are deployed 24/7.
Furthermore, costly 742 day and-night sorties totalling 1,968 flying hours have been conducted to provide constant surveillance. Surveillance drones are deployed apart from existing assets and manpower. On average, 22 ships and 122 boats are conducting patrols every day. These have led to the identification of "rat trails", which were designated by local tekong, who form the largest organised syndicates that provide illegal immigrants with forged documents and transportation to their unscrupulous employers, namely in the construction, plantation, food and manufacturing industries.
The NTF found that a number of local fishermen along the Straits of Malacca have turned to this lucrative trade. They have compromised the safety of the country and increased the risk of spreading Covid-19.
The actions of those who conspire in this have cost the NTF and government a huge sum. Detaining and managing illegal immigrants require a large sum of money as the government has to build infrastructure to house them before deportation. And there are other costs associated with the process, including food and medicine.
The government also has to conduct Covid-19 swab tests on the illegals and meet their healthcare needs while they wait for deportation. Generally, the cost of maintaining a detention centre with 100 illegal migrants, including carrying out the Rapid Antigen Test for Covid-19, is about RM7,500 per day.
At the moment, 21 detention centres, which are housing 22,686 illegal immigrants, are stretched to the limit. If people are not stopped from entering the country illegally, these centres will become overcrowded, which will cause another crisis.
In view of this, cooperation in curbing the influx of illegals is vital. The responsibility to resolve the issue does not rest solely on the government and the NTF. It requires the collective cooperation of society — including fishermen's associations, village heads, estate managers and nongovernmental organisations.
Equally, the masterminds,tekong and (government) personnel who conspire in the activity should be severely punished. If the issue continues to be taken lightly, it will ruin our collective effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The #KitaJagaKita (we take care of our own) came about during this trying time. It is time Malaysians united against the influx of illegal immigrants.
The writer is commander, Royal Malaysian Navy