Deport repeat foreign traffic offenders?

PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department is considering severe penalties, including deportation, for immigrant workers who are repeat traffic offenders.
Director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said today the proposal came up after feedback from the Road Transport Department (RTD) following various traffic offences committed repeatedly by immigrant workers, such as having no driving licence and road tax, and using fake documents.
"Although the number of immigrant workers committing traffic offences is small, we cannot compromise even if they carry a valid (work) permit.
"They can be deported if they continue to commit traffic offences," he said at a press conference after an engagement with representatives from the RTD, police and Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF).
Asked whether similar action could be taken against expatriates, Mustafar said the department would not compromise if RTD records show that they were repeat offenders.
Asked to comment on the Indonesian maid who died after alleged abuse by her employer, Mustafar said Immigration blacklist employers who ill-treated their workers.
"If they have offences on record, surely they will not be allowed to recruit workers, not only maids but also workers in other sectors," he said.
He also said that employers could also be blacklisted for abusing the work permits of their workers.
The 21-year-old Indonesian maid, who was allegedly abused at the employer's house in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, died yesterday when under treatment at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital.
On the collaboration with the MCPF, Mustafar said his department would work with the non-government organisation in the prevention of crime involving foreigners, particularly foreign students.
MCPF senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who was present at the press conference, said the MCPF would appoint an immigration officer to the committee of the Crime Prevention Clubs that had been set up at every institution of higher learning in the country.
"The officer can provide input from the Immigration Department to help the MCPF to create awareness among students on crime so as to prevent them from committing crimes or falling prey to criminals," he said. – Bernama