No extension of Dec 31 deadline for illegals

PUTRAJAYA: There will not be any grace period for the foreign workers’ rehiring and 3plus1 programmes after Dec 31, says Immigration directorgeneral Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.

He warned employers and foreign workers not to wait until the last minute to get things one, stressing there would not be any time extension for the programmes.

“After Dec 31, we will carry out enforcement. Illegals found, as well as employers who are caught harbouring illegals, will be detained.

“This is just like when the ECard registration programme ended on June 30, we did not extend it despite appeals from employers,” said Mustafar at a press conference after his department’s monthly assembly here.

Under the rehiring programme, illegal foreign workers who have obtained their ECards are able to get themselves legalised.

As for the 3plus1 programme, illegal workers can surrender themselves and escape prosecution by paying a penalty of RM400.

“After paying the fine, they must buy an air ticket and return to their own countries. They will then be blacklisted from entering Malaysia for up to five years,” said Mustafar.

During ECard registration programme, many employers began flocking to Immigration Department offices only during the last few days before the deadline.

Despite pleas from employers, the department remained firm that there would be no extension as it felt that the period given to register was sufficient.

On another matter, Mustafar said he would be having meetings with the Chief Justice as well as the AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers on imposing a heavier punishment for employers who harbour illegal workers.

“We received plenty of feedback from concerned members of the public, who feel that people who employ illegal workers should be given heavier punishment.

“However, our department’s role is only to catch these offenders. The punishment that will be meted out is set by the courts.

“During our meetings, our department will convey the concerns of the public. We will also be discussing about setting up a special court to deal with illegal immigrant cases, to prevent backlog,” said Mustafar.

Under Section 55B of the Immigration Act, employers found guilty of harbouring illegals can be jailed between six months and five years, fined between RM10,000 and RM50,000 per illegal employee, and given six strokes of the rotan.