The influx of foreign migrants is among the contributing factors to the rise in crime rates in this country.

   

Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said some of the foreign migrants had become serial criminals or were involved with syndicates who made Malaysians and others their scam victims.

   

"They (foreign criminals) have established networks involving syndidates to cheat their victims through the computer and Internet as their main tool.

   

"They have also made local women their accomplices and take their ill-gotten gains back to their country of origin through the electronic banking system in Malaysia," he said in reply to questions from Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong).

   

Wan Junaidi ( left ) said throughout last year, 19,056 foreigners were arrested, with their crime cases accounting for 12 percent of the total 147,062 reported cases in the country.

      

He said this year until September, 14,143 foreigners were arrested and their cases made up 14 percent of the 97,393 cases reported.

   

"The police pay serious attention to curbing crime among foreigners, whether they come to this country as tourists, students or workers as their involvement in crime could have an adverse impact on the local community and harmony in the country," he said.

   

On the Lahad Datu intrusion incident, Wan Junaidi said the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) had spent over RM22.87 million in addressing the issue.

- Bernama