Speaking to FMT, Immigration Director-General Mustafar Ali said the department had adhered to standard operating procedures (SOP) when making arrests and holding the undocumented migrant workers in detention centres.
He was responding to an AFP report, which highlighted the concern of activists in the region that the department’s crackdown on undocumented migrants was “victimising the vulnerable”.
“When we make arrests or hold a person in detention, we abide by the SOPs,” he said, adding that this included handcuffing detainees.
He pointed out that in other countries, immigration authorities would also take action against undocumented migrants in accordance with their SOPs.
Mustafar said it was unfair for the Immigration Department to be made out to look like the “bad guy,” when they were just acting in accordance with the law and protecting the sovereignty, security and the well-being of the people and the country.
“We are thankful for foreign workers because they contribute to the country. But we want everyone to abide by the law.
“We gave sufficient time for employers to register their undocumented workers and get their E-card but only 155,000 were registered between the given time of Feb 15 to June 30.”
According to reports, there are an estimated six million migrant workers in the country, with only 2.1 million working here legally.
In January, Mustafar announced that the government would issue E-cards to enable employers to apply for the rehiring of illegal workers.
The card is a temporary identification document to replace valid travel documents and is free of charge.
Mustafar pointed out that the department’s crackdown, which began on July 1, wasn’t only aimed at undocumented workers but also errant employers as well.
“The E-card programme is meant to give a chance to undocumented migrant workers. As illegal workers, they are vulnerable to exploitation, but with the E-card, they are protected by the law.”
Mustafar said all undocumented workers should surrender themselves, adding that they would be deported if they were ineligible to be rehired and registered through the E-card programme.
“There are some 400,000 undocumented migrant workers who are eligible to be rehired and registered, so if their employers want to register them, then they should come forward and do so. These workers will not be deported.
“The E-card programme is a good opportunity for employers to register their workers and make sure they are recognised and protected by the law, sadly many don’t want to take this opportunity.”
Since July 1, the department has detained some 3,300 undocumented migrant workers and over 65 employers.
Employers found employing illegal immigrants not registered would be fined not less than RM10,000 and not more than RM50,000 or face imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or both under Section 55 (B) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, he added.
Most of the undocumented migrant workers detained are Bangladeshis but there are also substantial numbers from Indonesia and Myanmar.