Review immigration policies, says group

PETALING JAYA: A spousal support group has called on the Malaysian government to review immigration policies and protocols that currently determine the entry approval for foreign spouses and children of Malaysians.

The Foreign Spouse Support Group said that although they were non-citizens, they were still considered immediate family members.

“They are now stranded overseas and have been ‘locked out’ of their Malaysian homes,” it said.

The group’s co-founder Bina Ramanand acknowledged that national security and public health needed to be maintained as a result of opening up the border.

However, she urged the authorities to treat the issue urgently.

“Those stranded overseas with children must be given priority as this situation is not in the best interest of the families and they can be put in a precarious situation.”

Bina said the group had received many inquiries from foreign nationals following Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s latest announcement that long-term pass holders from India, Indonesia and the Philippines would not be allowed to enter Malaysia effective Sept 7, following a spike in cases.

Valerie Sophia, whose AustralianFilipino husband is working in the Philippines as a human resources director, said he was supposed to return to Malaysia in April, but the plan was put on hold because of the movement control order (MCO).

The couple, who have two young children, met in February in Australia and then in the Philippines.

“He would usually go in and out of the country on a tourist visa, staying for about two months on each visit,” she said.

Sophia said her husband had obtained company approval to work from home for the next six months, but he was unable to enter Malaysia.

They applied for approval for him to return home two weeks ago, but have yet to hear back from the Immigration Department.

Noor Zaimah Zaidi, whose Indonesian husband has not been allowed into the country, is frustrated and has “lost hope” following the latest announcement.

She said her husband had applied to enter Malaysia since last month.

“I don’t know what to do. My kids are asking when their father will come home. As a Malaysian, I understand the government’s decision, but as a wife and mother, I’m really sad,” said the mother of two.

A Malaysian who wanted to be known only as Amir said his Filipino wife had not been able to enter the country since the MCO was imposed.

He was glad when the government announced that foreign spouses would be allowed in, but the latest directive turned into a “nightmare” for him.