E-Card application programme for illegal immigrants until June 30, no extension

PUTRAJAYA: The application for temporary cards or Enforcement Cards ( E- Cards) for illegal immigrants from yesterday until June 30 will not be extended, said Immigration director- general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.

Speaking to the media after inspecting the first day of the registration process at Immigration Department Headquarters here yesterday, he said the programme targeted to register about one million illegal immigrants.

“The deadline will not be extended. However, I am confident the target can be met based on the smooth running of the system, in addition to positive response from the employers.”

As of yesterday afternoon, the maximum number of workers registered by an employer was 50, while the minimum was one.

The registration can be done at all Immigration offices in Peninsular Malaysia.

The E-Card has security features such as biometrics of the employee and the employer, the company’s name, the registration number, the barcode and signature of the director- general of Immigration and the Inspector- General of Police at the back.

Mustafar said the E- Card, valid until Feb 15 next year, was open to applicants with employers in the construction, agriculture, services, and the manufacturing sectors.

Asked on what action would be taken after the deadline, he said the unregistered immigrants would be deported and the employers would face legal action including having their assets seized and their accounts frozen.

On Jan 17, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Ministry of Home Affairs had obtained the permission of the AttorneyGeneral to issue temporary cards to employed illegal immigrants. — Bernama