Dangerous waste: Saifuddin Nasution (third from right) with Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan (fourth from right) visiting an e-waste factory where tonnes of ammunition were found. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: A special pass to investors or expatriate groups will be issued starting April to allow them to stay in Malaysia longer to handle their investments, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
“We will begin this on April 1. The passes will be issued electronically,” said the Home Minister during Minister’s Question Time yesterday.
He said the proposed pass for investors is a new initiative and it will facilitate expatriates to live in Malaysia.
“They (investors) are also looking at the ease of doing business. The quicker and easier applications are, the better their acceptance of the business climate in this country,” he said in response to Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya), who asked about the latest initiatives by the Immigration Department in improving its services.
Saifuddin Nasution said there are presently 11,700 outstanding applications on entry permits for spouses of Malaysians.
“The Immigration Department is committed to solving all applications by June,” he added.
On Monday, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the implementation of the improved entry permit process for foreigners married to Malaysians will begin on Sept 1.
He said to be eligible to apply for an entry permit, the foreign wives of Malaysian citizens must be married for at least three years and they must hold a social visit pass for a year.
For the husbands of Malaysian citizens, a minimum marriage period of five years is required.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said police are not ruling out the possibility that e-waste factories raided last month are connected to organised crime syndicates.
“The police are investigating the criminal and security element as well as the large-scale nature of the illegal e-waste activities,” he told reporters after visiting a raided factory in Telok Panglima Garang yesterday.
He said he has briefed the Prime Minister on the raids and investigations on illegal e-waste factories.
“He (Prime Minister) has given his thoughts on how the matter should be dealt with by all the relevant agencies, including the police.
“We will also look at the origins of e-waste containers, including all documents. Investigations into these activities must end in those involved being prosecuted,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution also said police are on the hunt for a foreign man, the owner of the factory processing e-waste, including bullets and casings in Telok Panglima Garang.
Investigations showed the bullets were brought from overseas.
“The e-waste factory has two owners registered – a local and a foreigner. The local man has been detained but the foreign man has fled. Authorities are searching for him,” he said.
On Feb 15, it was reported that a raid on an illegal e-waste recycling factory led to the discovery of more than 50 tonnes of bullet casings and live rounds due for re-smelting.
