PARLIAMENT The Home Ministry came under fire from a backbencher today for failing to keep the nation's borders secure from illegal immigrants, unlike neighbouring Singapore which has had greater success doing so.

NONE"How can Singapore control illegal immigration? Is it because of (better) technology? Are their officers are more capable?" Azalina Othman (BN-Pengerang, left)) asked during her turn at debating the motion of thanks on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat today.

"Or are they more concerned about the issue that they have worked harder to stop it?"

While she is proud of the “successful” Malaysian response to the armed incursion in Lahad Datu, Sabah, earlier this year and the security zone that has been put in place to secure the area, Azalina said other places were not so lucky.

police checkpoint in sabah lahad datu intruders"I want to tell the ministry that other places bounded by the sea, like in Pengerang, Johor, continue to see the infiltration of illegals, through ‘rat holes' in our borders," she said.

Azalina called for security zones similar to the Eastern Sabah Security Command to be established in places such as Pengerang, where illegal intrusions are rampant.

She also expressed worry that illegal immigrants may be taking away jobs from locals in the Rapid petroleum refinery project as contractor companies may use foreign labour, legal or otherwise, to keep profits up.