PUTRAJAYA: A total of 712,435 illegal immigrants have registered under the Return Recalibration and the Labour Recalibration programmes since the implementation of both initiatives in November 2020 until June 30, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (pic).
He said 293,907 individuals had registered for the Return Recalibration while 418,528 had registered for the Labour Recalibration.
"Through the Return Recalibration, the Immigration Department recorded a total of 255,111 illegal immigrants have returned to their countries of origin and generated revenue of about RM140.55mil to the government,” he said in a press conference after presenting citizenship approval letters to 28 recipients here on Wednesday (July 13).
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Hamzah said for the Labour Recalibration programme, a total of 335,276 illegal immigrants were present for the verification process and 3,900 of them failed, due to, among others, that they were on the suspects list, or blacklist or were reported to have run away by their employers.
He added that a total of 114,121 Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS) had been approved by the Immigration Department through the Labour Recalibration programme.
"The government collected a security deposit of RM209.26mil and revenue through recalibration fees, levies, passes, visas and processes, amounting to about RM 331.84mil," he said.
On Nov 16, 2020, the government launched the Illegal Immigrant Recalibration Plan, implemented by the Immigration Department in collaboration with the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Department (JTKSM) and other government agencies, without the involvement of vendors or third parties.
It is to regularise illegal immigrants in the country as foreign workers, who could be employed by eligible employers subject to stringent conditions determined by the government.
The Return Recalibration programme is a government initiative to provide an opportunity for immigrants who have overstayed and are in Malaysia without a valid pass, to voluntarily return to their country of origin.
Hamzah, meanwhile, reminded employers not to abuse registered foreign workers.
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"If workers register for a job in a restaurant, they can't serve other sectors... don't misuse it,” he said.
Hamzah also said the ministry would implement an e-locker programme to track the presence of foreign workers in the country as well as the salaries they earned.
On the citizenship letters, he said the recipients were granted citizenship status according to Article 15A of the Federal Constitution.
Article 15A provides the power to the Federal Government in special circumstances to register a person under the age of 21 as a citizen.
"The granting of citizenship status is the highest award conferred by the Federal Government and it is hoped that they will become responsible citizens for the prosperity and progress of the country," he said.
Hamzah also advised Malaysians who married foreigners, either locally or abroad, to legally register their marriages according to the laws of this country.
"Don’t treat this matter lightly to avoid problems in the future," he said. - Bernama
