PUTRAJAYA (Oct 14, 2011): Over four million enforcement officers will be deployed nationwide operation to track down errant employers and illegal foreign workers who failed to register under the 6P programme.
Home Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said the Immigration Department has been tasked to lead the the large scale operation on land, sea and border towns.
"The enforcement team will also comprise 3,000 Rela members, 125,000 police officers and 110,000 military personnel," said Mahmood in a statement today.
Supporting ministries and agencies for the operation include the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, Housing and Local Government Ministry, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and Malaysian Civil Defence Department.
However, Mahmood said that only agencies authorised under the Immigration Act 1959/1963 and Passport Act 1966 will be allowed to act on its own, while the rest will have to join forces with the Immigration Department.
"The Immigration Department as the main body in charge will also be responsible to prepare an overall strategic enforcement plan, coordinate efforts at state levels and submit a daily report on enforcement statistics to the Home Ministry's 6P Programme Execution Committee," he said.
Mahmood said the decision was reached during the first 6P Enforcement Agencies meeting held at the ministry today "The meeting was held to discuss enforcement approaches and techniques to be used once an order is issued by the government to commence operations."
Based on the Home Ministry's proposed enforcement procedure, errant employers and illegal foreign workers who are not registered will be given a time period to "surrender" themselves at any Immigration Department offices nationwide and avoid prosecution.
"At the same time, employers are still bounded by the law which requires the workers to be sent home, and they (employers) will have to bear the full cost," said Mahmood, adding that the final date is expected to be announced soon.
The 6P programme amnesty exercise for foreign workers had on Monday entered the legalisation phase, following the conclusion of its registration phase on Aug 31.
A total of 2,320,034 illegal and legal foreign workers were registered using the biometric system from July 13 to Aug 31.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said that the workers will be placed to work in five major sectors designated by the government, namely plantation, construction, manufacturing, farming and services.
The 6P programme comprises the six components of registration, legalisation, amnesty, monitoring, enforcement and deportation.
Alyaa Alhadjri ( TheSund Daily )
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