Attempt By 29 Illegal Immigrants To Enter Malaysia Foiled

TAWAU, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The Tawau Marine Operations Force foiled an attempt by 29 Indonesian nationals to enter the country in a passenger ferry using fake medical chits.

The officer-in-charge of the Tawau Marine Operations Force, DSP Husaini Zainal Abidin, said the illegal immigrants, aged between 20 and 30, including two women, were detained in a passenger ferry after they failed to produce valid travel documents.

He said that while patrolling during the 'Ops Octopus' at about 11.50am in the Sungai Tongkang waters, the Marine personnel inspected a passenger ferry coming from the direction of Nunukan and found that all the illegal immigrants had doubtful 'employers leave' only.

"Further investigation carried out revealed that all the medical leave claimed by the illegal immigrants as being issued by an estate plantation in Lahad Datu were fakes," Husaini told reporters, here Monday.

He said the illegal immigrants admitted having bought the medical chits for 450,000 Rupiah or about RM150 each in Nunukan as one of the tactics to deceive the Malaysian authorities. -- BERNAMA