REGISTRATION OF FOREIGH WORKERS TO BEGIN WITH THOSE WITH PERMITS - MSIAN DPM

PUTRAJAYA, July 7 (Bernama) -- The cabinet has decided that the registration
of foreign workers in this country will begin with those having work permits
before proceeding with the amnesty and legalisation programme.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said this was because from
the information received after the government announced the move, there were
cases of legal foreign workers becoming "illegal" in this country.

He said this happened when certain unscrupulous quarters took the
opportunity to make a lot of money from the programme implemented by the
government.

"Therefore, the cabinet decided that we register the legal foreign workers
first....maybe we postpone a bit the amnesty for and legalisation of those
without valid work permits.

"I see the need to expedite the registration of foreign workers who are
already in their respective employer's list," he said after chairing a meeting
of the Cabinet Committee on Supply and Price at his office, here, Thursday.

Prior to this, the government had announced that the amnesty and
legalisation process for illegal foreign workers in this country would kick off
on July 11.

Muhyiddin said following the government's move for the legal foreign workers
to be registered first, the new date for the implementation of the amnesty and
legalisation programme would be announced later by the Home Ministry.

"When all the names are already in the biometric system...according to the
sectors, then the announcement will be made," he added.

Muhyiddin said the legal foreign workers in this country were already
registered, but were not recorded under the biometric system.

He said with this measure, those with valid work permits could not "run
away" and work at other places except with the employers who recruited them
originally.

-- BERNAMA