The Home Ministry has assured there would be no charge for registering illegal immigrants in the massive six-month amnesty exercise slated to begin next month.

NONE Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam (left) said the registration exercise itself will be free, adding that it would be unlawful for any agents or employers to charge the immigrants.

"We are open to all those (illegal immigrants) who want to register themselves, including those who are self-employed or not working for any local company," he said in a press conference in his ministry this morning.

While the registration process itself is free, he admitted that further levies may be incurred if the employers were to apply for work permits.

"Then that is up to the employers to pay for them," he said.

To ensure that the cost is not passed on to the immigrants, he said the government would pursue various engagement process with employers.

Largest amnesty exercise yet

With an estimated 1.9 million illegals currently residing in Malaysia, the government has embarked on its largest amnesty exercise to date.

Under the program codenamed '6P' - for pendaftaran (registration), pemutihan (legalisation), pengampunan (amnesty), pemantauan (supervision), penguatkuasaan (enforcement) and pengusiran (deportation) - illegals will be given two weeks starting July 11 to accept the offer or face arrest.

illegal immigrants roundup 010305 patiently waiting Amnesty International Malaysia recently raised alarm that the individuals would be charged RM400 to be legalised, and a further sum between RM2,000 and RM3,000 for checkups, visa and other things on top of the cost of a work permit depending on the sector.

While Mahmood assured that no action will be taken against the illegals who come forward to register themselves, he said there will be a crackdown once the amnesty period is over.

"That's why enforcement is only of the processes. So don't go around blaming people if they have missed the amnesty period," he said.

Stringent enforcement and surveillance have been placed at the country's entry points to ensure that illegal immigrants do not attempt to enter Malaysia simply to seek amnesty, he said.

If there's found to be a surplus of workers in the sector, he also did not rule out deportation after the immigrants register themselves.

Without giving details of how many immigrants the government plans to deport, he said the ministry will 'make the arrangements if the immigrants want to go home', adding that the cost may be borne by the foreign missions of the individual's country of origin.

'Total package solution'

With five amnesty programmes already undertaken in the last decade, Mahmood also hinted that it may be the last for the government, at least for a long time to come.

NONE "This 6P programme is already a total package solution... It was not so integrated the last time. Previously it was more ad-hoc. This time, we have integrated so that all levels of government agencies, private sector, employers and foreign mission is involved. We are also using the biometric system now.

"This programme has been planned since one and half years ago," said Mahmood.

While registration can be completed in any immigration office in the country, he said the government is also engaging with village heads and the village development and security committee (JKKK).

"They just have to help us persuade the immigrants to register themselves. They are not going to go round up the illegals and catch them like 'Ghostbusters'," he said, adding that 'small incentives' may be given out.

"It's not necessarily monetary. Maybe we'll give them a nice certificate or throw a jamuan (feast)," he said.

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