The Malaysian Insight

THE Immigration Department is on the hunt for illegal immigrants following the end of the Back for Good (B4G) amnesty programme, which saw some 190,000 foreigners repatriated.

Director-General Khairul Dzaimee Daud said more than 1,800 foreigners were screened in 124 operations nationwide in the first 24 hours after the programme ended on December 31 last year.

He said the department expects to nab some 70,000 illegals who failed to take advantage of the scheme.

“B4G ended on December 31 with a total of 190,471 undocumented foreigners having registered to be voluntarily repatriated.”

Unofficial data puts the number of illegals in Malaysia at 500,000.

“However, there are still some who did not take advantage of the opportunity, and also, there are certain adamant employers,” said Khairul.

“They will face legal action if they are found to have gone against the law.”

He said the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 will be used against employers of illegal foreign workers if elements of forced labour or exploitation are found.

The department will continue to conduct enforcement operations to track down those who refused to turn themselves in when they had the chance, he said.

“We hope members of the public who have information on illegal foreign workers will come forward, so that further action can be taken.”

The B4G programme was carried out between August 1 and December 31 last year to allow undocumented foreigners to return to their home countries without heavy penalties.

Applicants were required to get endorsement letters from their embassies and a special pass from the Immigration Department. They also had to buy flight tickets and pay a RM700 penalty.

Their names will be blacklisted by the government to ensure that they do not return.

In 2014, another amnesty programme saw some 840,000 illegals leaving the country and RM400 million in penalties collected. – January 11, 2020.