A full body check for all immigration department detainees is part of the standard operating procedures at its detention depots, said director-general Alias Ahmad.

NONE Alias Ahmad (left) made the comment in relation to Singapore news reports that two Singaporean women were stripped and forced to perform squats in the nude while in detention at the Pekan Nanas detention depot last Thursday.

However, Alias Ahmad did not confirm if the two Singaporeans were made to do squats in the nude.

“A full body check on new detainees (is) to ensure there are no restricted items are hidden in body parts such as weapons, drugs (and) cigarettes from being brought into the detention centre," he said in a statement.

“The checks on the duo were performed by a female officer who was stationed at the examination room which is regulated according to the SOP."

According to Alias, the duo were detained while at a counter that processes vehicles exiting Malaysia for not possessing a valid pass to enter the country.

He said their detention was based on Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which carries a maximum penalty of a RM10,000 fine and/or a maximum five-year jail term, as well as whipping up to six strokes.

Alias said that, while the duo claimed they had entered the country earlier through an unmanned immigration counter, the immigration personnel at the exit counter were suspicious with their explanation.

The two said they had made a U-turn and ended up at the departure counter to obtain an entry pass. But the entry and departure counters are located far apart, thus fueling the suspicion.

He added that their passports show they had entered and exited Malaysia several times before and allegations that there was an unmanned entry counter were “unreasonable”.

“On that day, all vehicle 38 counters were opened and operational,” he said.

Deported with warning

The two were taken to the Pekan Nenas detention centre at 4.30pm that day after their statements were recorded, while waiting for further instructions from the deputy public prosecutor’s office.

“On June 10, the investigation papers were referred to the DPP for a decision and the DPP decided that the two Singaporean citizens were to be deported to Singapore with a warning.

“The deportation was performed on the same day."

According to Singaporean news reports, the duo claimed that they had approached the immigration personnel upon realising their mistake.

They also claimed to have been unfairly and unnecessarily subjected to humiliation when they were made to squat 10 times in the nude while pulling their ears.

Furthermore, they said that they were handcuffed and put in a cramped and dirty detention cell with more than 50 people.

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