KOTA KINABALU: The amnesty programme for illegal immigrants in Sabah will only consist of 5Ps, Pendaftaran, Pengampunan, Pemantauan, Penguatkuasaan and Pengusiran (Registration, Amnesty, Monitoring, Enforcement and Repatriation), unlike the 6Ps carried out in Peninsular Malaysia.
State secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman told a press conference yesterday that Sabah will not be implementing the “pemutihan” (legalisation) process.
“We are not carrying out the legalisation process as Sabah had done it four times before in 1997, 1998, 2008 and 2009 respectively,” he said.
The Sabah government will register the illegal immigrants in Sabah in line with the Federal Government’s decision to find out their number in the state and how many foreign labour is required by the economic sectors in Sabah,” he said.
Meanwhile, Immigration director Mohammad Mentek who was also present at the press conference, said that the two-week registration process would start on July 18 after which the illegal immigrants would be given a two-month amnesty to voluntarily return to their homelands.
Mohammad however stressed that the department will consider extending the registration period if the two weeks was not sufficient.
According to him, illegal immigrants can register in one of four categories which are, illegal entry, overstaying, violating conditions of their work passes and possession of a passport issued by their country’s embassy or consulate in Malaysia.
“Registration will be carried out at the community centres in Kudat, Menggatal, Ranau, Keningau, Sipitang, Tawau and Lahad Datu as well as the Balai Seni Inabah in Semporna.
“Following the registration process, we will conduct the enforcement process which is expected to last for two months and expected to end by December this year,” he said and urged all employers to come forward and register their foreign workers.
He added that most illegal immigrants are employed in the plantation and agriculture sectors followed by the manufacturing and other sectors.
He also said that illegal immigrants who have been legalised in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia will not be allowed to enter Sabah.