A DEPUTY Minister has called for the establishment of an independent task force of eminent persons to conduct an investigation into the incident at the Bidor Immigration Depot yesterday.
M. Kula Segaran, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said alternatively, a parliamentary select committee could also undertake this task.
"An unbiased examination by an independent body is crucial to instil public confidence and ensure the integrity of the investigative process.
"All reports outlining outcomes of investigations into this matter must be made public to promote transparency and accountability," the Ipoh Barat MP said in a statement.
On Thursday night, 131 illegal immigrants fled from the male block of the Bidor Immigration Depot.
One of them was reported to have died in a road accident. Of those who fled, 115 were Rohingya detainees, 15 were Myanmar nationals and one from Bangladesh.
Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Juson confirmed that 10 illegal immigrants have been recaptured as of this morning.
He said the operation to track down the remaining 120 immigrants is ongoing until all of them are apprehended.
"The safety and security of our immigration facilities are paramount, and we must be committed to taking all necessary actions to address any shortcomings revealed through the investigation.
"Authorities must learn from this incident and implement measures to strengthen the security and management of immigration facilities across the country.
"The priority must always be to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the well-being of our communities," said Kula Segaran.
He said he was deeply troubled by the regrettable incident and emphasised the importance of accountability for those responsible for this breach of security.
"I call for a thorough investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. A comprehensive and transparent inquiry must be conducted to determine the root causes of the situation.
"We need to ascertain whether this incident is an isolated occurrence or if there have been similar incidents in the past.
"Understanding the context will help us implement necessary measures to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future," he added. - The Vibes, February 3, 2024
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