PARLIAMENT Deputy Home Minister Masir Kujat today corrected his earlier statement that the police were only allowed to detain illegal immigrants during joint operation with the Immigration Department.

The police have the power on their own to detain and arrest illegal immigrants, he told the Dewan Rakyat.

The wrong answer he had given raised eyebrows in the House on Nov 19 during the question-and-answer session.

"I stated that the police may not have the authority to arrest the illegal immigrants, but (they can) if the immigration officers are present," Masir said.

However, he said, the Immigration Act allowed senior police officers to detain illegal immigrants.

He added that any police officers, immigration officers and customs officers can detain if they have reasonable suspicion.

According to the Parliament's Hansard dated Nov 19, Masir had said, "However, the police might not have the power to arrest the illegal immigrants; they can arrest directly in the presence of immigration (officer)."

He was responding to Siti Mariah Mahmud (Amanah-Kota Raja) who asked if the police can arrest the illegal immigrants.

"We see immigrants all over the country. We also often see the police detain them; I do not know the reason,” she said.

“However, I know that the police have no authority (to detain) the immigrants," Siti Mariah said.

"What is the authority of police when they bump into illegal immigrants ? What actions are they allowed to take ?" she asked.