I refer to your news report Gov't offers amnesty to all illegal immigrants .

Apparently, all illegal foreign workers, irrespective of their nationalities and regardless of their immigration offences, are to be given 17 days to return to their countries under an amnesty programme beginning Oct 29.

It is the government's hope that the estimated 1.2 or two million Indonesian illegal immigrants in the country would take up the this offer before a nationwide crackdown on illegal workers in January.

However, based on my observations since 1982, these amnesty programmes will not work and indeed have worked against us in terms of strengthening our national policy on illegal immigrants in the country.

The government from time to time talks tough talk and flexes its muscles in relation to coming down hard on illegal immigrants but then instead turns around and facilitates an 'amnesty'.

What does this say about our national polices or us as a nation?

It is interpreted as a huge weakness that is repeatedly manipulated by Indonesians who come in droves illegally because of what many term our 'kid glove approach' towards mighty Jakarta.

Five months ago an illegal immigrant in Klang told me that the Malaysian government would be granting an amnesty in October. How did he know?

Perhaps, this shows how widespread and sophisticated their ties are in the land and what a joke our national policy on illegal immigrants has become.

If this continues unhindered, Malaysian internal security will be vulnerable and our national policy on integration will be furthered threatened.

The writer is the president of the Consumer Association of Shah Alam and Selangor (Cassa).