A total 2,320,034 foreign workers and illegals were registered using the biometric system under the 6P amnesty progamme when the deadline for registration ended on Aug 31.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the number comprised 1,016,908 legal workers and 1,303,126 illegals.

“This does not include those who refused to register, and maids and refugees from Sabah and Sarawak. If we don’t act under the 6P programme, the problem of illegal immigrants would become worse in future,” he said in Putrajaya today.

Hishammuddin said Indonesian made up the highest number of foreign workers  with 640,609 illegal workers and 405,312 legal workers in Malaysia followed by Bangladeshis numbering 267,803 illegal workers and 132,897 legal workers, while Nepalese consisted of 221,617 legitimate workers and 33,437 illegal ones.

Hishamuddin said those legal and illegal workers yet to register themselves, could still do so at the Immigration Department or appointed agents.

“They can (register), but we cannot decide their status,” he said.

Hishamuddin said the starting date of the legalisation process, the second component of 6P, would depend on the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrants meeting, to be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, on Oct 3.

On another matter, Hishammuddin said the decision by the Australia’s High Court on Aug 31 not to allow asylum seekers from Australia to Malaysia did not really impact on Malaysia.

“It is only that the decision was not in favour of Australia, but as far as I am concerned, our agenda will be continued and I am always in close contact with my counterpart in Australia,” he said.

On July 25, Malaysia and Australia, signed a historic agreement for the exchange of 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers, in Malaysia with 800 from Australia, for a four-year period.

However, the Australian High Court has ruled that the agreement is invalid.

- Bernama