‘Undocumented’ Refugees in Malaysia Allowed to Go Home
28 July 2012, KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 11,926 undocumented migrant workers from Burma were pardoned and allowed to return home without penalty since October last year under the 6P whitening program in Malaysia.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday, Burmese nationals were the fourth largest nationality being pardoned in the country after Indonesian (111,344), Nepalese (16,352) and Indian (13,349).
“Others undocumented foreign workers being pardoned are from Cambodia (8,201), Bangladesh (6,949), Vietnam (6,254), Pakistan (3,436), Philippines (3,428), China (2,989), Sri Lanka (2,334), Thailand (824), Nigeria (406), Iran (231), Somalia (102), Sudan (93) and other countries (1.545),” according to the statement.
Meanwhile, a total of 19,161 undocumented foreign workers from various countries and 494 employers were arrested under enforcement operations conducted since October last year.
The ministry also warned foreign workers not to buy promises from ‘agents’ who claim they can re-register them under the 6P program
“We never appointed any company to do the re-registration process, and the registration process is over.”
“The Ministry has received reports on attempts to deceive and take advantage of the employers and their workers,” he said.
Reporting by Thomas Chong