Malaysia to warn people of dangers of marrying illegal immigrants

The parliamentary secretary for the Home Affairs Ministry, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, said members of the People's Volunteer Corps, or RELA, were suited for the role because of their familiarity with their own neighbourhoods.

"Some of these foreigners marry the locals just to enjoy the privileges in this country and would abandon their local spouse when they return home," he was quoted as saying late Saturday by the state Bernama news agency.

Abdul Rahman, who did not say how RELA would carry out the task, said members of parliament and state lawmakers would also be appointed to the volunteer squad to help curb the "marriages of convenience."

RELA, a uniformed task force, which assists security officials in raids on illegal immigrants among other duties, has been criticised by rights groups for its excessive use of force.

Malaysia on Friday announced plans to arrest and deport up to one million people in its latest crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Hundreds of officials will be involved in the operation targeting factories hiring immigrants, and foreigners conducting business illegally.

Abdul Rahman said the large-scale operations to track down the illegal immigrants would be conducted in stages to ensure the country's 16 detention centres would not be overcrowded.

Malaysia has launched several crackdowns since 1992 on illegal workers, most of whom come from impoverished parts of South Asia -- especially Indonesia.

But each one has led to a labour shortage followed by a new wave of illegal immigration -- a pattern, which was apparent after a large blitz last year.