Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today announced that the government will once again embark on an amnesty programme for undocumented migrants beginning Aug 1 until midnight of Dec 31.
He said the “Back for Good” programme to be carried out by the Immigration Department across Peninsula Malaysia is open to all migrants who committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying or remaining in the country without proper documents.
“A compound of RM700 will be charged to all migrants who join this programme.
“The migrants involved must bring along valid travel documents (passport or emergency travel documents) and a ticket to return to their country of origin within seven days,” Muhyiddin told a joint press conference with Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud at the Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya today.
In urging the foreign embassies to assist their citizens in securing their travel documents, Muhyiddin also confirmed that all those who returned will be blacklisted from re-entering Malaysia.
For the implementation, he said no third-party agency will be involved in carrying out the Back for Good programme and all undocumented migrants can register themselves at 80 Immigration counters to be opened across Peninsular Malaysia.
Putrajaya had launched in the past several large-scale amnesty exercises, but with little success in reducing the number of undocumented migrants.
The problem was partly attributed to a vicious cycle where workers enter the country via third-party agents at a high cost, and rogue employers who in turn hired them with low pay and little rights.
A reluctant decision
Quizzed on his expectations for the latest amnesty programme, Muhyiddin said: “I am personally quite reluctant, to be frank, to have this sort of amnesty from time to time.”
The Pagoh MP, however, said he agreed to once again launch an amnesty programme with the hope that the number of undocumented migrants will finally be reduced.
“I am not sure how many will join the programme over the next five months, but at least 300,000 to 400,000 should leave.
“After that, we mean business,” he stressed, pointing out that the RM700 compound charged is a significant discount compared to normal fines under the Immigration Act.
For undocumented migrants caught in a dispute with their employers, Muhyiddin said the Malaysian government has no duty to assist them before they leave for good.
“We will not help them... they are in the country not according to our laws. Either they are working (for an employer) or on their own. Both are still offences.
“So why should the government help them? If anything, we will help arrest them and send them back, not to help solve their problems with employers,” said Muhyiddin, who also warned stern action against employers harbouring undocumented migrants after the amnesty deadline on midnight of Dec 31.
Accompanied by Khairul Dzaimee and Home Ministry secretary-general Alwi Che Mat, Muhyiddin earlier visited the Back for Good registration counter facility at the Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya.
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