THERE is no pressure from the top for the Immigration Department to close an eye, especially on operations against illegal immigrants, said its director-general Mustafar Ali.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insight in an exclusive interview, Mustafar, however, said he had been stern rejecting any political instruction that come his way.

After two years at the Immigration Department, Mustafar is expected to head the newly set-up National Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) in 2019.

“There had been requests, using political powers to approve or let through projects. There have also been minutes from the top extended to me to approve certain things. But my way is we will do proper checks first (on the projects or proposals).

“If they qualify, we will approve them. If they don’t qualify, we will inform them why they have been rejected.

“There is no pressure on me. We will just give them the justification for rejection,” he said.

The Immigration Department has earned a reputation for being corrupt, especially when it comes to matters related to illegal immigrants. Mustafar took over as chief in 2016 and embarked on a clean-up.

Mustafar said he never compromised on wrongdoing and corrupt practices, even if the wrongdoers are some of the biggest names in the country.

He once led an operation at a high-end mall in Kuala Lumpur because it was employing illegal workers.

“I just didn’t care. If the workers were legal, there is no issue at this exclusive shopping mall, but we caught 250 illegal workers.

“I did receive phone calls from the top about the raid but although they were a high-end shopping mall with connections, they had hired illegal workers. We cannot compromise of the nation’s sovereignty.”

He also said the task of stopping illegal immigrants should not be handed to the Immigration Department alone as it needs the cooperation from other agencies, including the local councils.

With only 15,000 officers, it is a hard task for the department to monitor the 1.9 million foreign workers in the country, as well as those who come as tourists and then work here, he said.

“Some of them just don’t go back after the expiry of their visas. This is really difficult. They come in as students and then work in pubs. By doing so, they have become illegal foreign workers.

“Some come in as tourists but work here as sex workers. We raid massage parlours but they keep coming back. It is up to local councils to shut down massage parlours or spas.” – December 31, 2018.