DEPT BEGINS CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGALS
3+1 voluntary surrender programme ended yesterday
THE Immigration Department launched a major operation at midnight yesterday with the end of the 3+1 voluntary surrender programme for illegal immigrants.
Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said the news of the operation was confirmed by Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who earlier said the programme’s deadline, which was yesterday, would not be extended.
“We do not want to be inundated by illegal immigrants. (And) their employers and embassies will be held responsible for bringing them home after the deadline,” he said.
Introduced in 2014, the programme allowed illegal immigrants, who surrendered voluntarily, to obtain a pass for RM100 and be charged a compound fee of RM300, which would enable them to return home without prosecution.
“The department often receives complaints from locals who are concerned about the influx of foreigners in the country.”
Mustafar said the immigrants often “colonised” certain places, especially residential areas.
He said the influx could lead to the spread of infectious diseases.
“Strict enforcement is necessary to curb the influx of foreigners,” he said.
To date, 840,000 illegal immigrants have surrendered under the programme, including 148,774 this year.