System Integration for expatriate applications from April 1

PETALING JAYA: The government will on April 1, introduce the System Integration for Approving Authorities to ease expatriate applications under a single platform.

This new system will ensure a streamlined delivery of immigration services and security by consolidating data on the expatriates with the national talent database.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said with this, the time for expatriate application would be shortened to a minimum of five working days instead of more than a week.

"Expatriates had to go through many agencies for the application process. Thus, putting all approving agencies under one platform will make it easier," he said at a press conference after the opening of the new Malaysia Expatriate Talent Service Centre ( MYXpats Centre), here, yesterday.

Also present were Human Resource Minister M. Kula Segaran and the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Amir Omar.

The approving agencies include Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Bank Negara, Securities Commission and Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA).

Apart from that, Mohd Azis said the government was also introducing online payment for the Immigration Pass Fee to be made available through the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) from May this year.

He said the online payment would help ease the process for employers and eliminate the need for manual payment over the counter.

In 2018, there were about 117,000 expatriates, mainly in the highimpact and high-value sectors.

Meanwhile, Kula Segaran said another two MYXpats centres would be opened in Penang and Johor by next year to cater to the number of expatriates in these areas.

He said the government and stakeholders would also hold discussions in future to abolish the entrance of expatriates in Category II and Category III, thus opening up opportunities for Malaysians to work in these