KOTA KINABALU: The government will not compromise with anyone employing illegal immigrants or against those bringing them into the state, says Deputy Home Minister II Datuk Jonathan Yasin.

       "We will take stern action against them and there will be no compromise," he said.

       He said the Immigration Department was carrying out ongoing operations with other agencies to weed out employers hiring illegal immigrants or protecting them.

       "The joint operations also targets syndicates bringing illegal immigrants into the country," Jonathan said in a statement Saturday (July 17).

       This year alone, he said the Immigration Department conducted 601 operations which saw 34 employers being charged and 1,061 immigrants arrested.

       "They have also deported 1,739 to their respective countries," Jonathan added.

       During a two-day operation in Ranau that began on Friday (July 16), he said that 65 out of 173 employers were warned not to hire or get involved in bringing immigrants into the country.

       "Immigration also detained several illegal immigrants for not having passports or other valid documents, as well as for overstaying," he added.

       The detainees then would undergo health screening, including Covid-19 tests, before being sent to the detention centre.

       Jonathan, the Ranau MP, said state Immigration successes depended on people providing information and they appreciated tip-offs leading to arrests of illegal immigrants and their employers.

       "It is important that people play their role and not harbour or employ illegal immigrants as well as reporting their presence to authorities," he added.