KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has issued 25,214 not-to-land (NTL) notices to foreigners this year till September.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry has tightened checks at the country's entry points to curb the activities of syndicates who bring in foreigners illegally.
He said enforcement agencies have dismantled 47 syndicates, with 1,285 syndicate members and undocumented immigrants arrested this year.
This is part of the government's three efforts to curb the counter-setting syndicate, he added.
"The Immigration Department, the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and other enforcement agencies are continuously stepping up efforts to combat these syndicates that smuggle in illegal workers through strategic cooperation.
"We are also tightening checks to ensure that only those eligible are allowed entry. As of September, 25,214 foreign nationals were issued an NTL notice or a notice of rejection," he said in the Dewan Rakyat.
Saifuddin Nasution said this in response to Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) who asked about what steps the government was taking against syndicates that brought in foreigners through the counter-setting modus operandi.
He said the Immigration Department has formed a special patrol unit that conducts surveillance before travellers reach immigration counters.
"If they linger without proceeding to the counter for four to five hours, it indicates they are waiting for a signal from the syndicate.
"As of September, 6,694 travellers were denied entry due to reasons such as lacking a valid address, insufficient funds, and more," he said.
Saifuddin Nasution said the other two efforts to curb the activity of syndicates were enhancing surveillance of enforcement officers and increasing the use of technology.
For this, he said the Immigration Department would intensify patrols, install more closed-circuit television cameras, conduct surprise inspections, and ensure that officers on duty are not allowed to bring in telecommunications devices before their shift.
Upon leaving, he said, a body search would be conducted on enforcement officers.
He added that the Home Ministry was finalising the advanced passenger screening system, which will allow Immigration officers to conduct preliminary screenings with a list of passengers even before they arrive.
They are also in the final phase of upgrading CCTV systems, including both audio and visual at the counters, he said.