The Hindu : Malaysia keen on sending back illegal immigrants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 25, 2002

International

International

Malaysia keen on sending back illegal immigrants

By T.S. Shankar

KUALA LUMPUR MAY 24. With the Malaysian Government extending the deadline from May 23 to 31 for the amnesty scheme announced for the deportation of ``illegal immigrant'' workers of different nationalities, including India, the Immigration Department made it clear that it was serious about sending back such immigrants without any further extension of time.

The Assistant Director-in-Charge of the Malaysia Immigration Department for Passport and Visa Permit, Abdul Wahab bin Abdul Hamid, said there were 1.5 million illegal immigrants, with Indonesians and Indians topping the list.

The Indians numbered about two lakh. The amended Immigration Act would provide for more stringent punishments such as whipping and rigorous imprisonment.

``We are also actively working out heavier penalties for those who employ or harbour such illegal immigrants,'' Mr. Hamid told The Hindu on the sidelines of the pre-launch official function organised by the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) in connection with the celebrations of the Colours of Malaysia 2002 Parade.

He admitted that Malaysia was in a piquant situation as these ``illegal immigrants'' were mainly responsible for the construction of high-rise office buildings, hotels and roads.

Malaysia greatly valued ties with India, especially in tourism promotion and infrastructure development in the aviation sector. It would extend all possible assistance in issuing visas for genuine tourists and workers arriving with legal work permits.

A five-day transit visit pass would be issued on arrival for those travelling beyond Kuala Lumpur with confirmed bookings. The validity of the pass had been extended from 72 to 120 hours.

Mr. Hamid said thanks to the expansion plans of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) in India, there was a need for the Immigration Department to hasten the process of opening visa offices in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore. Offices now exist in New Delhi and Chennai.

Enquiries in Kuala Lumpur show that the Embassies of India, Indonesia and Bangladesh have been flooded with illegal immigrants applying for travel papers to return home as a majority of them fear stringent punishment.

Mr. Hamid assured a visiting group of journalists and travel-tour operators from India that Malaysia would extend all assistance to genuine tourists and appreciated the MTPB's efforts for launching an aggressive campaign to promote tourism. The Director International Marketing of the MTPB, Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, outlined the marketing initiatives of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism for promoting tourism between India and Malaysia.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International