The Malaysian Insight

PUTRAJAYA will not extend the June 30 deadline to register illegal migrant workers, Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi said today as the crackdown on undocumented foreign workers began early this morning. 

Zahid, who is also home minister, said appeals from employers for an extension will not be considered and action will be taken against foreign workers without valid permits.

“We are forced to take strict action because the Immigration director-general Mustafar (Ali) had given several warnings and I don’t think any more warnings should be issued. Action should now be taken.

“Even though 23% of illegal foreign workers have applied for the E-Card (enforcement card), strict action based on Immigration laws should be taken.

“We have given them enough time. If there are employers or non-governmental associations that ask for an extension, I don’t think that is possible,” Zahid said in Putrajaya today.

He said employers should be responsible and register their foreign workers so that they could continue to work in the country.

“They (illegal foreign workers) are in our country because they wish to look for jobs here, and we won’t stop them if they go through the proper channels.

“We are not blaming anyone but the employers should be responsible, the workers also should be responsible if they know that they do not have a working visa.”

Earlier today, Mustafar personally led a raid on a makeshift dormitory in Kapar, Klang where 51 illegal foreign workers, mostly from Bangladesh, were nabbed for not having valid documents.

“To those who thought we would extend the deadline, ‘no way’. We have to take stern action. It might seem severe, but we are protecting the country’s interest and sovereignty.

“We will take action every day to ensure the country is free of foreign workers working without permits,” he was quoted by The Star as saying.

Mustafar said the department had educated employers and foreign workers on the issue, and had also reached out to the embassies of the source countries of foreign workers.

Since the launch of the E-Card on February 15, 23% or 155,680 illegal foreign workers have registered, involving 26,957 employers.

The E-Card functions as a temporary confirmation of employment for illegal workers.

The card, which is given out to migrant workers for free, replaces valid travel documents from the workers’ respective countries and is valid until February 15, 2018. – July 1, 2017.