Once the programme ends, those found staying in the country illegally will be subject to enforcement action under existing laws. - Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 155,000 foreign nationals have registered under the Migrant Repatriation Programme, with over 138,000 successfully repatriated to their countries of origin to date.
Immigration Department deputy director-general (operations) Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli said the programme had also generated more than RM77mil in revenue through fines imposed on participants.
He noted that Bangladeshi nationals recorded the highest participation rate, followed by Indonesians.
“The programme has been in place since last year, and many have taken the opportunity to return home through this initiative,” he said at a press conference during an enforcement operation codenamed Ops Selera and Ops Sapu on Thursday night.
Lokman said the programme remains open until April and urged foreign nationals who have overstayed or do not possess valid visas and permits to take advantage of it before the deadline.
“Once the programme ends, those found staying in the country illegally will be subject to enforcement action under existing laws,” he said.
He added that participation has been encouraging so far, with authorities expecting the numbers to rise as the closing date approaches.
“Based on past trends, participation usually increases towards the end of the programme,” he said.
In May last year, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was reported as saying that the government had agreed to extend the programme from May 19, 2025 until April 30 this year, specifically for Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan.
The programme is a voluntary amnesty initiative that allows illegal immigrants to return to their home countries without facing prosecution, subject to compounds based on specific offences.
Saifuddin Nasution said a RM500 compound is imposed for offences related to entering or remaining in Malaysia without a valid pass, as well as overstaying after a pass has expired, while a RM300 compound is imposed for breaching pass conditions.
In addition, applicants are required to pay a Special Pass fee of RM20 per issuance.
Foreign children under 18, who have overstayed their visas or were brought into Malaysia without a valid pass, are exempt from fines but must still pay the Special Pass fee.
