As many as 200,000 migrant workers may have been cheated by agencies approved by the government to facilitate the ‘6P programme’ - a legalisation and amnesty exercise for illegal immigrants.

Migrants’ rights NGO Tenaganita, which made this claim based on complaints received, said in a statement that most of those affected are from Bangladesh.

Under the 6P programme which began on July 11 last year, the Home Ministry had tasked some 55 agencies with registering undocumented immigrants so that they can work legally in Malaysia.

NONE Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez said, however, that many were cheated, abused and remain undocumented even through they had paid between RM3,000 and RM4,000 each to 6P agents.

Fernandez said documented testimonies and evidence of abuse were submitted to the police headquarters in Bukit Aman, as well as to the Immigration Department, Home Ministry and Human Resources Ministry, more than seven months ago.

“(Up to now) no action has been taken,” she said.

One case involves SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd, of which former home minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad is the director, although he has denied knowledge of, or involvement in, its activities.

News portal Free Malaysia Today reported that the company is currently under investigation for several offences of allegedly exploiting and assaulting workers.

“This is yet another reminder of how urgent and imperative it is that investigations into allegations of corruption and state complicity in fraud involving the 6P programme be carried out independently, urgently and openly,” Fernandez said.

She also called on the Bangladesh government to think twice about signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the recruitment and placement of its citizens in Malaysia.

H NONE owever, English-language daily Star reported that the MoU was signed today by Malaysia’s Human Resource Minister S Subramaniam (right) and Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, the Bangladesh Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Fernandez added that Tenaganita and the Bangladeshi migrants affected by the 6P programme will hand over a memorandum containing seven demands to Khandker when he visits Malaysia.