All foreign workers without valid documents would be picked up in the nationwide crackdown, said the Malaysian immigration department director general on Tuesday.
Datuk Alias Ahmad, however, said the workers whose papers were being processed or those waiting for the renewal of their permits would be released later, reports Malaysian The Star Online.
“We will verify their status. If their documents are being processed and, as long as they did not overstay in the country, they will be freed,” he said adding that these workers would be released within 24 hours of their detention.
More than 2,400 illegal immigrants including 387 Bangladeshi nationals were detained in the crackdown since Sunday, according to the Malaysian home ministry. No official information or media report on further detention of the illegal migrants was known.
Meanwhile, following media reports on the employers’ concern of labour shortage due to the crackdown, the Malaysian human resources ministry offered discussion with the employers after the government’s tough action to flush out foreign illegals.
Deputy Minister of Human Resources Datuk Ismail Mutallib said, “If there are problems, the employers can come and discuss with the ministry. Ultimately, it (operation) will benefit employers by hiring foreign workers legally.”
Source: The Daily Star
