Illegal immigrants bring in leprosy, says minister

Indeed, illegal immigrants have brought many problems to Sabah, one of the many problems include health as this minister said because he is in charge of health. The government has not addressed the illegal immigrant problem with sincereness that threatens to tilt the demography and dramatically changing the political landscape in Sabah.



More than 50% of illegal immigrants who came to this country suffered from leprosy, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.

He said most of those who carried the disease were detected in Sabah as well as several other states, including Pahang and Selangor.

“(But) for foreigners who come via legal channels go through medical screening in their country, and are further examined here,” he said.

He was speaking after the 85th anniversary celebration of the National Leprosy Control Centre (PKKN) and launching of the Sungai Buloh Hospital Leprosy Gallery at PKKN’s community hall here, today.

Also present were Sungai Buloh Hospital director Datuk Dr Khalid Ibrahim; Health Ministry’s Disease Control Division, TB and Leprosy Sector head Dr Jiloris J.F. Dony and PKKN’s senior principal assistant director Dr Sai’ah Abdullah.

Earlier in his speech, Hilmi said PKKN in the Sungai Buloh Hospital had become a historic icon in the field of medicine, which played an important role in eradicating leprosy.

“The Leprosy Centre which was established in 1969 has managed to control leprosy cases with distinction when the prevalence rate of leprosy was 0.9 cases for 10,000 residents, in 1994.

“It achieved the target earlier than what was set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which targeted 2000 as the year in which the country would be leprosy-free,” he said.

The establishment of the leprosy gallery will showcase various artifacts used by leprosy patients as well as research laboratories, which can educate the public about the history of leprosy in the country.

Hilmi said the government provided various facilities and assistance for leprosy patients residing in PKKN, including homes, chalets to perform various agricultural activities besides receiving an allowance of RM21 per day to support their daily lives.