Mustafar addresses the media. Also seen is Immigration Department Sarawak director Ken Leben.
KUCHING: The Immigration Department laid out for consideration 755 entry permit applications in Sarawak yesterday.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said the applications would be submitted to the National Registration Department, which would issue Permanent Resident (PR) documents to successful applicants.
He said the Immigration Department received 1,361
entry permit applications supported by the State Secretary as of June 21.
“After they were checked by the Visa, Pass and Permit Division here, a total of 755 were laid out and discussed by us this morning. The rest are still under consideration,” he told a press conference.
Any non-Malaysian intending to enter and reside in Malaysia as a PR may apply for an entry permit in accordance with Section 10 of the Immigration Act and Regulation 4 of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
Meanwhile, Mustafar said between January and June this year, the Immigration Department arrested 893 illegal immigrants in Sarawak.
He said under Ops Mega 3.0, which began on July 1, the department arrested 137 illegal immigrants, bringing the total number of arrests for the year to 1,030.
So far this year, 687 operations were carried out against illegal immigrants, including 258 conducted during Ops Mega.
Mustafar said the Immigration Department is still in the process of checking on employers in Sarawak who employ or harbour illegal immigrants.
“Some of them have been called to give their statement to the Immigration Department, while the rest are still being examined,” he said.
Department statistics show there are 59,664 legal foreign workers and 12,988 expatriates in Sarawak this year.