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Strict Enforcement Against Corrupt Immigration Officials And Not A Cash Reward Scheme Will Assist In The Government’s Efforts To Evict 1.2 Million Illegal Immigrants In Malaysia Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng (Petaling Jaya, Thursday): Home Minister Datuk Azmi Khalid is wrong to offer special allowances or a cash reward scheme to immigration officials so as to prevent corruption that will undermine the government’s efforts to evict the 1.2 million illegal immigrants in the country. Azmi had explained in the New Straits Times on 25/10/2004 that there have been cases of enforcement officers demanding monthly protection money of RM50 per head to prevent certain areas from being raided.  Such admission is shocking as Azmi is admitting that immigration officials are easily bribed and that the government is helpless to stamp our such corruption. Therefore Azmi feels the only solution for the government is to outbid the illegals by offering more money. By preparing to offer more money than these illegal immigrant protection syndicates, is legally and morally wrong as the government should not try to outbid the illegals with money but enforce the law and protect our country without fear or favour.    DAP has no objections to special overtime allowances for immigration officials engaged in such special operations. But to have a special cash reward per head or other incentives is unacceptable when it is intended to defeat immigrant protection syndicates not to encourage the immigration officials to work harder. Even at RM 50 per illegal, this would come up to more than RM50 million, a huge cost to our country.   I have received many complaints from the public why a government civil servant should be offered a special bounty per head when it is their duty to detain illegals. Extending this principle, does this mean that the security personnel would only be serious in carrying out their duties to ensure public security if they are paid by the number of criminals or illegals or offenders caught?  Azmi must not forget that it is the duty of immigration officials to drive out such illegals and giving special cash rewards goes against the  very purpose of the Immigration Department to protect our country. The government should realize that corruption is the root cause that allows illegals to enter, work and live in Malaysia. Bold action against corruption would be the most effective method to reduce the number of illegals in the country.  (28/10/2004) * Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General