Dr Rais Yatim today maintained his take that inconsistent enforcement policies led to the illegals scourge that the country is facing when he presented details of illegals whereabouts at the weekly Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today.

The minister in the Prime Ministers Department was responding to the Selangor government which yesterday denied the charges and called on Rais to provide evidence to back his accusations.

Rais said the details, gleaned from letters and public feedback over the last few months, showed where the illegals have started settlements and businesses as evidence that there were irregularities on the part of the local government and its enforcement division.

I noticed that if the government does not collectively take up the issue, there is bound to be more problems later on if matters get worse.

The fact is that when no action is taken, it is difficult to deny the notion that corruption is present. In fact, today I received a letter from Rawang detailing the location of an illegal settlement, he said when contacted.

Status report

The Cabinet also accepted his proposal that the Housing and Local Government Ministry prepare a status report on illegal immigrants, he added.

On Monday, Rais hinted at corrupt practices and blamed the lax enforcement by the Selayang and Ampang Jaya local authorities for the influx of illegal immigrants and businesses in the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday requested Rais to furnish more details on his allegations, especially since he had named two local authorities.

This is the second time Rais has named both local councils for omitting to act against illegal immigrants after a major squatter colony was uncovered in Gombak sometime late last year.

State exco in charge of local government, housing and squatters and environment Mokhtar Dahlan, in responding to the allegation, said the de facto law minister should provide the details to him or the state government.

To this, Rais said: Ive given information largely on the location of illegal settlements and businesses run by the illegal immigrants plus some letters pinpointing the areas. The Home Ministry has enough to work on.

Rais allegations also sparked off a controversy when Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister M Kayveas accused some state assembly representatives of allowing illegal immigrants to settle on government land.

Mohktar said the accusation was baseless and Kayveas should have referred to the state government instead.