Bidor search operation for illegal immigrants widens

TAPAH: Large-scale operations will be carried out nationwide to recapture the detainees as the target and radius of the search have been expanded, says Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh.

“Tomorrow (today), 100 more personnel will report to the Bidor temporary immigration depot to assist in the operation.

“So far, 10 illegal immigrants who escaped have been recaptured,” he told a press conference here yesterday, Bernama reported.

When contacted, Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said as of 6pm last night, 37 detainees have been re-arrested.

Comm Mohd Yusri said 13 of them were found hiding in a farm at an Orang Asli settlement of Kampung Senta and had been taken to the Tapah police headquarters.

Ruslin said the operation to track down the remaining immigrants would continue until all of them are apprehended.

“Two of the suspects were detained at the Batu Melintang mosque where they entered the premises to ask for water. The locals alerted the police and they were subsequently recaptured.

“We also received information that one arrest was made in the Sementa Orang Asli village, all within a 12km radius. These immigrants have started to come out to look for food,” he said.

Ruslin said the latest development indicates positive progress in the operation, which has the cooperation of the police, including the General Operations Force, Air Operations Force, CID and Rela.

He said the ongoing search operation is focused on settlements of foreign nationals, mosques, vacant houses, surau and Orang Asli villages around Tapah.

“These escaped detainees may seek help from their fellow countrymen and relatives to hide in illegal settlements around Tapah.

“The public should alert the authorities if there are any suspicious individuals requesting food and drinks,” he said, adding that the escaped detainees have now dispersed and are not moving in large groups.

On the depot’s operation, Ruslin said it has been completely cleared.

“Around 11pm on Friday, 100 female detainees were relocated to depots in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur as well as in Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan and Kemayan, Johor,” he said.

In the incident on Thursday night, 131 illegal immigrants fled from the male block of the Bidor temporary depot, with one of them reported to have died in a road accident.

Of the total, 115 were Rohingya detainees, followed by 15 from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh.

Separately, Deputy Law and Institutional Reform Minister M. Kula Segaran said a comprehensive and transparent inquiry was needed to probe the incident.

“We need to ascertain whether this is an isolated case or if there have been similar incidents in the past as understanding the context will help us to implement necessary measures to prevent a recurrence.

“We must acknowledge the swift response of law enforcement agencies, especially those who ensured the safety of their fellow officers during the escape,” he said in a statement.

“An unbiased examination by an independent body is crucial to instil public confidence and ensure the integrity of the investigative process. The report must be made public,” he added.