53,682 Illegal Immigrants Have Left Malaysia Under 6P Programme

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- A total of 53,682 illegal immigrants have left the country under the 6P programme, Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmod Adam said. They comprised 35,142 Indonesians, 4,039 from India, Myanmar (2,467), Cambodia (1,901), Nepal (2,766), Bangladesh (2,108), Vietnam (1,289), the Philippines (1,167), Pakistan (1,123), Sri Lanka (786) and China (493). "A total of 41,422 illegal immigrants left through air transportation, 12,110 through sea transportation and 141 on land transportation," he said in a statement. He also said that 2,721 illegal immigrants and 46 employers were arrested by the Immigration Department through 1,178 enforcement operations under the programme which started on Oct 26. They were from a total of 25,158 illegal immigrants and 46 employers being inspected during the operation. He also said that the ministry had identified several issues during the operation and had conveyed them to the related ministries and supervising agencies. "The list of issues was obtained during meetings between the ministry and the parties involved including the employers, management companies and the embassies and high commissioners," he said. The issues include appeals for a more relaxed condition and mechanism, including allowing illegal immigrants registered under the programme to be legalised irrespective of the employment sectors and their eligibility ratio as set by the current policy on the intake of foreign workers. He said 12 ministries and related agencies had given their feedback while six others including the Defence Ministry had yet to do so. The 6P programme involved registration, legalisation, amnesty, monitoring, enforcement and repatriation of illegal immigrants. -- BERNAMA