Abdulhan showing the forms which Philippine nationals need to fill in before they are allowed to return home.
LAHAD DATU: Thousands of Filipinos have opted to return to their country of origin, thanks to an offer they find hard to resist from their government.
Philippine Ambassador Abdulhan U Jaujan in disclosing this said they had been distributing forms since March 12 to their nationals, offering them a ticket home.
“The offer was for those who had entered the state illegally, or the Suluks as well as Filipino nationals who were born in Sabah but have yet to obtain documents.
“Those who are married to locals in Sabah are also allowed to apply.
“We would provide them with the legal travel documents, such as passports, and would settle any fines imposed by the Malaysian Immigration Department on our countrymen, including their transportation costs,” he said.
Abdulhan said to date, over 300 people had been transported out by ferry via Sandakan.
He said resettlement and registration would be stationed at the consulate office in Zamboanga, Philippines.
“There are a lot of processes that need to be done upon their arrival in the Philippines,” he said.
Abdulhan said after they had obtained their passports, their nationals could return to Malaysia to work here legally.
“This will provide an opportunity for our people to return to their country and also to allow the Malaysian government to have records of their entry to the country.
“We will not leave our people to fend for themselves but will provide them with jobs based on their working experience here,” he said.
He added that they had received a lot of applications from the district, including from Felda Sahabat, but was distracted to make way for the request made by the security forces.
He said the shipping out of their nationals was part of their humanitarian effort, and had nothing to do with the intrusion case.