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Sarawak approves illegal immigrant recalibration plan

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Immigration Department Sarawak Director Datuk Ken Leben. Photo: Ramidi Subari

KUCHING: The state government has approved the implementation of the Illegal Immigrant Recalibration Plan effective March 15 to June 30.

This was announced by State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas today (Mar 3).

Elaborating on the details of the plan, Sarawak Immigration director Datuk Ken Leben said the plan comprised two components, namely the Return Recalibration Programme and the Employment Recalibration Programme.

“While the Return Recalibration Programme allows illegal immigrants to return to their country voluntarily, the Employment Recalibration Programme is aimed at regularising illegal immigrants in the country as foreign workers legally employed by eligible employers,” he said.

Explaining further on the Return Recalibration Programme, Ken said any illegal immigrants in the state who have committed an offence are qualified to be part of the programme.

“They are among those who commit offences under Section 15 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and overstayed the allowed period, violating the conditions of Section 6 (1) (c) for working without a pass and those who misuse the pass which is under Regulation 39 (b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

“These three offences entitle the illegal immigrants to be allowed to return to their country. For the first two offences, they will be compounded RM500 before being allowed to return. For the third offence, they will be compounded RM300,” he explained.

Ken said for the Employment Recalibration Programme, only two offences are allowed, namely violating Section 15 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and violating Regulation 39 (b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

“For illegal immigrants who are allowed to continue working, they will be charged a mandatory recalibration fee of RM1,500 plus a deposit of RM500 and other levy payments according to their respective sectors and visas,” he added.

He also mentioned that their documents in the state must be valid for three month to be renewed at their respective embassy.

“The period allowed to work for the Employment Recalibration Programme is five years from the date the pass is approved but the period of stay in Malaysia and Sarawak is not more than 10 years,” added Ken.

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