He said police should instead address two issues — how migrants are entering our borders illegally, and how recruitment agents were exploiting them.

Waytha, who is Malaysian Advancement Party chief, said police should investigate these agencies for imposing financial burdens on the migrants and exploiting their vulnerability.

“In fact, job recruitment agencies should be the target of a national security investigation and not these poor labourers who are merely trying to earn an honest living.

“Police should also ask themselves honestly, how on earth are our entry points being compromised. The real threat to national security lies there.

“Let us not divert attention from the real issue of our own weaknesses in enforcement and ensuring our borders are fully protected,” he said in a statement.

He also accused the senior police officer who made the comment of being ignorant of the plight of these menial labourers.

“They contribute to the country’s economy as our citizens don’t want to work in jobs considered as dangerous, dirty and demeaning.”

Waytha said corporal punishment such as caning was archaic, and was first introduced by the British colonial powers to keep the labour class in check, but was never used in their own country.

Recently, Bukit Aman internal security and public order director Hazani Ghazali said migrants who were repeatedly caught crossing our borders illegally should be whipped as a deterrent.

Current immigration laws already provide whipping penalties for those who enter the country illegally.