Malaysia to launch amnesty programme for illegal immigrants
Malaysia, which has nearly 2 million illegal foreign workers, including Indians, will soon launch a large-scale legalisation and amnesty programme to reduce the number of such immigrants.
By PTI |
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, which has nearly 2 million illegal foreign workers, including Indians, will soon launch a large-scale legalisation and amnesty programme to reduce the number of such immigrants.
The programme, which is expected to start next month, has been codenamed '6P'. The P stands for six Malay words beginning with the letter which mean registration, legalisation, amnesty, supervision, enforcement and deportation.
A senior Malaysian official said the immigrants would have three weeks to take up the offer or face the law if they are arrested without valid travel documents or work permits.
This is the most comprehensive programme ever introduced by Malaysia's Home Ministry to cut down the number of illegal immigrants.
Malaysia has nearly 2 million illegal workers. The country heavily relies on foreign labour to help out in the plantation, restaurant, construction sectors and other areas.
There have been reports that several Indian nationals too are among the illegal workers who have come here on valid visas and continued to stay on after the expiry of the work permits.
Malaysia's population of 27 million people consists of 60 per cent Malays, 25 per cent ethnic Chinese and 8 per cent ethnic Indians.
Malaysians usually do not take up menial jobs and rely heavily on workers from India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Sri Lanka to help out. Previously, moves to reduce illegal immigrants were limited to repatriation exercises.
Amnesty programmes have been held several times, the most recent being last year.
The programme, which is expected to start next month, has been codenamed '6P'. The P stands for six Malay words beginning with the letter which mean registration, legalisation, amnesty, supervision, enforcement and deportation.
A senior Malaysian official said the immigrants would have three weeks to take up the offer or face the law if they are arrested without valid travel documents or work permits.
This is the most comprehensive programme ever introduced by Malaysia's Home Ministry to cut down the number of illegal immigrants.
Malaysia has nearly 2 million illegal workers. The country heavily relies on foreign labour to help out in the plantation, restaurant, construction sectors and other areas.
There have been reports that several Indian nationals too are among the illegal workers who have come here on valid visas and continued to stay on after the expiry of the work permits.
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Malaysia's population of 27 million people consists of 60 per cent Malays, 25 per cent ethnic Chinese and 8 per cent ethnic Indians.
Malaysians usually do not take up menial jobs and rely heavily on workers from India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Sri Lanka to help out. Previously, moves to reduce illegal immigrants were limited to repatriation exercises.
Amnesty programmes have been held several times, the most recent being last year.
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