Malaysia not to give amnesty to missing foreign workers

Petaling Jaya, Jan 19 (ANI): Malaysia's Immigration Director-General Abdul Rahman Othman has said that illegal foreign workers, including those who went "missing" after their tourist visas expired, will not be legalised or given amnesty.

The Malaysian Government has been looking for a holistic solution to the problem of illegal immigrants and people who have overstayed their visa, including 39,000 missing Indian nationals.

The Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association had urged the Government to provide a three-month amnesty period to illegal migrants of Indian origin before going ahead with a planned crackdown on them.

"The Home Ministry has mentioned this before there will be no amnesty or voluntary repatriation. Those who overstay will have to go through the process of law," The Star quoted him, as saying.

Abdul Rahman was asked to comment on the statement MIC Youth chief T. Mohan on Sunday that the Government could legalise the foreigners working illegally in the country.

Mohan was commenting on the nearly 40,000 Indian citizens who went missing here after their tourist visas-on-arrival ex­­pired.

He said it was pointless to deport them, and that they should be registered so they could work here instead.

Abdul Rahman also warned that there would be no mercy for errant employers who continued to harbour or employ illegal workers after February 15 deadline.

"We urge errant employers to surrender their illegal workers before the Feb 15 deadline. We can still negotiate the fines," he said.

Abdul Rahman said the nationwide crackdown would target all groups of foreigners and not just the missing Indian citizens. (ANI)