REGISTRATION OF ILLEGAL FOREIGN WORKERS POSTPONED

      
      
    KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- The government has postponed the
operation to register illegal foreign workers which was scheduled to start Monday.
    
    Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that although much planning had been done for the registration exercise, he was not fully satisfied (with the planning).
    
    "As such, I hope that before we start the exercise, all involved, including the illegals, employers and third countries (to receive deported illegals) are in place so that there are no hiccups later," he told a media conference at the Federal police headquarters here.
    
    He said the programme could be implemented soon if everything was in place.
    
    "The parties responsible must convince me first that everything is in place before I report the same to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin so that there are no problems when the roll out begins," he said.
        
    Muhyiddin on June 22 had announced that the government would conduct a massive registration exercise of illegal workers from July 11 to determine the number of illegal workers and illegal immigrants in the country as well as have a database on them.
    
    Hishammuddin said he did not see any problems in finger printing the illegals using the biometric system and hoped the ministries responsible for the exercise, especially concerning the plantation, health, tourism and domestic help sectors, understood the process that would be involved (in the exercise).
    
    The exercise is part of the government's 6P programme which among others encompasses the registration of illegal foreign workers before they are legalised and also the provision of amnesty before deportation.
    -- BERNAMA