NO PLAN TO IMPLEMENT REGULARISATION PROGRAMME - MINISTER

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- The government has no plan in the near future to carry out any regularisation programme to register illegal workers in the country, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

He said that the ministry found that some foreign workers, whose work
permits had expired, had remained in the country as they were influenced by
rumours that the government would reintroduce the programme.

"I would like to stress that the government has no plan to do so in
Peninsular Malaysia. We have implemented one in Sabah which expired on Oct 31
last year while for Sarawak, we are still discussing the matter.

"These workers are advised to promptly leave the country," he said in a
statement.

He added that foreign workers, whose work permits had expired for a certain
period, could apply to join the voluntary repatriation programme by paying the
transportation cost and a minimal fine.

They could refer to their respective embassies or the Immigration Department
for further information on the programme, which run from April last year until
May 16 this year, he said.

Hishammuddin also said the ministry viewed seriously the abuse of visas
among Indian citizens in the country as revealed by the prime minister
Tuesday.

He said the ministry was looking into several measures to address the
problem including reviewing the transit without visa facility, tightening checks
at entry points, enhancing the safety features of visas, reducing the validity
period of visa without reference, and cooperating with neighbouring countries
which were used as alternative entry points.

Hishammuddin also reminded employers to be more responsible not only in
managing their workers but also in ensuring that they leave the country upon the
expiry of their permits.

"We cannot continue to give in to the demand by employers to allow intake of
foreign workers without ensuring that there will be no glut of foreign workers
whose permits have expired," he said.
-- BERNAMA