A PARTY run by Malay nationalist Ibrahim Ali has formed a volunteers’ brigade to help the authorities nab those who have overstayed their tourist visa.

Consisting of more than 2,000 members and non-members, their task is to gather intelligence on the overstayers and then to pass on the information to the Immigration Department.

“This squad will act as a back-up to the enforcement agencies and Rela,” said Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) vice-president Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz at a press conference today.

“We will act by providing intelligence to the authorities but this depends on our meeting with the police and immigration.”

Putra has sent a letter requesting a meeting with Immigration director Khairul Dzaimee Daud and Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador.

They have yet to receive any response, he said.

“If they advise our team to be absorbed into Rela, so be it then. But Rela has its own budget and allocation. Maybe they will not take us in.

“Our concept is based on volunteerism, no uniform but we will monitor for the government.”

The decision to form this volunteer brigade was made after Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s recent announcement that 90% of tourists from China and India do not have exit records.

Khairul also said the party’s leadership, including its president Ibrahim, will take responsibility for the acts of their volunteers.

“How is it possible for Putra to plan something against the law?

“The president and I will ensure that our group is not a pest… that is why we have sought meetings with the police chief and immigration director.

“Our volunteers will be useful to the nation,” he said.

The party will ensure only dedicated members are enlisted into the brigade after undergoing a strict selection process, he said. – December 26, 2019.