Special Correspondent :
Thousands of Bangladeshi men living in Malaysia are now facing great uncertainty following the arrest of undocumented foreign workers in the ongoing massive crackdown against the illegal immigrants by the authorities concerned.
Malaysian media quoting government officials ran reports that 515 Bangladeshi migrants have already been arrested and the number of detainees is likely to be increased if the operation continues. The Bangladeshi detainees did not have the necessary enforcement card (e-card) or permits for temporary residence.
Officials of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment said at present, 15-16 lakh Bangladeshis are staying in Malaysia for different purposes. Of them, 11-12 lakh are documented. The rest are undocumented.
Malaysian newspaper ‘The Star’ quoting Immigration Director General Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali reported that officers inspected 155 premises around the country and screened 3,393 people on Saturday.
Among the detainees, 515 were Bangladesh nationals. Another 135 were from Indonesia, 102 from Myanmar, 50 from the Philippines, five from Thailand and two from Vietnam. At the same time, Malaysia detained 101 women and three children.
When contacted, Additional Secretary of Bangladesh Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (Administration) Javed Ahmed told The New Nation on Sunday night, “Most of the arrested Bangladeshis went to Malaysia taking visit visa, education visa and etcetera. They failed to take valid document within June 30, the announced timeframe by Malaysian government for the undocumented workers, as a part of its rehiring process.”
Officials said Bangladeshi migrants, including the workers, were advised several times by the ministry concerned to update their documents. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also requested the Malaysian government to extend time as Bangladeshi undocumented migrants get enough time to renew their papers and so, the last date was fixed on June 30.
As a part of the crackdown, 16 employers were also held for hiring and harbouring the illegal migrants, Mustafar Ali said, according to The Star.
Officials said the detainees have given a number of explanations for their inability to obtain the e-cards. Some said they were not aware of the deadline while others said their employers had assured them that they would receive an extension on the deadline.
Pointing the issue, Javed Ahmed further said: “Taking the opportunity, about 2,50,000 undocumented Bangladeshi migrants had obtained valid papers [e-card] by the announced time. A high-powered ministerial team comprising Additional Secretary level officers visited Malaysia a couple of times in the last four months.”
“At that time, the team had paid visit to 800 companies where Bangladeshi workers do their job. The Malaysia’s immigration department accepted applications for e-cards from March 1 to June 30,” he said.
During the Op Mega led by its Director General Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali, Johor registered the highest number detained – 414 illegal immigrants and three employers.
Besides, Kelantan and Sabah, similar operations were held in Terengganu where 64 were detained. Besides, the arrests include Selangor -51, Kuala Lumpur -48, Melaka – 46, Perlis -41, Sarawak -36, Perak -36, Penang -23, Negeri Sembilan -23, Kedah -20, Pahang – 10 and Labuan -7.
Labour Councillor of Bnagladesh High Commission in Malaysia Sayedul Islam said: “Validity of e-card will be expired on February 15 next year. Those have no passport or work permit, they could continue their job if they obtain e-cards till the aforesaid period.”
The undocumented workers will have to collect passport and travel document from their relevant embassies to get work permit. If they fail to do so, they will be sent back to their home countries after the time ends.”
Officials said the e-Card is a temporary document that allows foreign workers without a valid travel document or work permit to carry on working in the country pending the approval of a permanent document or work permit because the temporary e-Card expires on February 15, 2018.
On November 11 last year, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister of the Southeast Asian country Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told his parliament around 2.5 lakh Bangladeshis were working in Malaysia with valid work permits. “A total of 1,854,684 foreign workers, including the Bangladeshis, were holding the temporary employment pass or the work permits issued by the Malaysian immigration department,” he said.
The highest number of legal migrants is from Indonesia (749,226), followed by Nepal (411,364), Bangladesh (237,991), Myanmar (140,259), India (121,430) and others (194,374), Zahid, who is also the Malaysian home minister, he said.
Malaysian newspapers quoting the Immigration Department said when the deadline for e-Card registration ended on June 30, only 23 percent or 161,056 illegal immigrants had registered, although the registration for e-Card was launched on February 15, this year.
