Foreigners with expired passes can apply to extend stay

 

Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said applicants for special passes must include their Malaysian addresses and evidence of financial means. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The immigration department has confirmed that foreigners whose social visit passes expired during the movement control order must leave Malaysia by April 21.

However, those who have difficulty in returning to their home country because of travel restrictions may apply for a special pass to extend their stay, the department said. This application must be supported by their respective embassies and must include their address in Malaysia and evidence of their financial means.

Separately, home minister Hamzah Zainudin said he would consider, “on a case-by-case basis”, applications from those stranded because of the MCO.

Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said foreigners given permission to stay in Malaysia on social visit passes must comply with every rule under the Immigration Act.

“The immigration department has decided that these foreigners must leave the country by April 21. Failure to do so can lead to action being taken,” he said in a statement today.

Khairul’s statement confirms an FMT report yesterday of foreigners from several countries being told that they have until April 21 to leave the country without being fined or detained.

The deadline is based on Putrajaya’s grace period for foreigners whose social visit passes expired in 2020 because they were stranded by movement control restrictions.

Khairul said the immigration department had found several cases of visitors misusing their social visit passes to work at entertainment centres and massage parlours as well as indulging in criminal activities such as prostitution and scams.

He added throughout 2020 and 2021, up to 1,281 foreigners and 83 employers have been detained in 291 enforcement operations on entertainment centres and massage parlours. -FMT