Foreigners instructed to leave as some abused social visit passes - Immigration DG

 

Malaysian Immigration Department has instructed all the foreigners with expired social visit passes to leave the country before April 21 after discovering some had abused their passes.

This was the explanation given by the department's director-general, Khairul Dzaimee Daud (above), after foreigners who have been stranded in Malaysia since early last year said they were shocked by the short notice given to them to leave Malaysia.

"We found several cases of foreigners abusing their social visit passes following enforcement operations. Some worked in entertainment centres, massage parlours, prostitution, scamming and other offences.

"In the 291 enforcement operation carried out since 2020, the department nabbed 1,281 foreigners and 83 employers," he said in a statement this evening.

Since last Thursday, foreigners from several countries reported they had received emails from their missions in Malaysia informing them to leave the country within a 14 days grace period without being fined or detained.

"Foreigners who were granted permission to stay in this country through the social visit passes must adhere to all the laws and regulations stipulated in the Immigration Act.

"The department decided that these foreigners have to leave the country by April 21. Failing so may result in enforcement action being taken (against them)," the Immigration DG said.

However, Khairul Dzaimee said foreigners could still apply to extend their stay in Malaysia further.

"The department understands that some of the foreigners found it hard to return to their own countries due to a lack of flights and the Covid-19 pandemic that hit their country of origin.

"If they face any constraints to return home to their countries of origin, they may apply for special passes to extend their stay in this country, but this should be supported by their own embassies.

"They must provide evidence on their place of residence and financial ability to support the duration of their stay," he added.

In a notice published on their respective websites, both the US and Chinese embassies have urged their citizens stranded in Malaysia to leave the country to avoid being fined or detained.

"In January, the Malaysian authorities informed the US Embassy that foreign nationals currently in Malaysia with social visit passes that expired on or after Jan 1, 2020, will have a grace period of 14 working days after the end of the movement control order (which, at the time, was scheduled to end on March 31, 2021) to leave Malaysia without having to apply for a special pass or obtain prior approval from Malaysian Immigration.

"The Malaysian authorities have not indicated that the above-mentioned grace period has been extended. US citizens in Malaysia holding expired social visit passes should prepare to depart Malaysia prior to April 21.

"Individuals holding expired social visit passes who stay in Malaysia or attempt to depart Malaysia after that time may be subject to strict penalties, including immigration detention and fines," said the US Embassy.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy urged Chinese nationals to adhere to Malaysian laws and regulations.

"Those with expired short-term visas must leave the country before April 21 to prevent from being fined and arrested," it said.

Meanwhile, The Star reported the difficulties faced by a US citizen stranded in Malaysia, Joanne Richardson, with an expired social visit pass.

"We have been here for a year and have rented apartments, adopted animals and made social obligations. We cannot just drop everything to leave immediately," she said.

Richardson, who was born in Romania, could not return to her native country as she lost her residency status during the lockdown and was barred from entering with a US passport. - Mkini