By Simon
Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 11 August: It has been weeks since the Putrajaya government announced the massive illegal foreign workers legalization 6P programme in 11 July according to the state-run newspaper, The Star. The programme includes registration, legalization, amnesty, supervision, enforcement and deportation. The legalization and amnesty exercise was supposed to be initiated for only "Two-weeks" according to its earlier report. Under the lead of the Home Ministry, the appointed agencies have been so far monitoring the execution of the programme since its inception.
But it is learnt that it is being commenced and further details of whether there will be any extension will be still unidentified.
However, it is rumored that it can take more than six months by dint of the urge of many agencies including NGOs and the local companies.
The foreigner analysts believe that the move of this programme would partly help the country to cut down the illegal foreign workers and at the same time their details would be keyed into the biometric system imposed by the Home Ministry. And whether good or bad, it will be interested to see the management of the government on this biometric system.
Soon after, late of last month, the UNHCR office has called on refugee communities and giving a fresh warning not to do this programme as UNHCR has had a closed-door discussion with the government regarding the refugee issues.
Malaysia is a transit home for hundreds of thousands of refugees—refugees from neighboring countries as far as middle east countries, many of recognised refugees and asylum-seekers working in factories, companies and several sectors facing enormous problems; many of them being forced to do the programme or else fired by their employers on denial of doing so, reported the advocate Chin Refugee Committee (CRC).
Recently, Ma Shing Thang, a Chin recognised refugee from Mindat Township, who worked in Stilum Company in Shah Alam, northern Kuala Lumpur, was physically abused before he was fired by his employer because of refusing to do the 6P programme despite working in that company for more than 2 years. Many Chin refugees, like him, facing fresh problems with other employers and agents as the fact that the employers fear that they would not be spared the legal prosecution after the end of the programme.
Much of the problems facing Chin refugees in this regard have been well handled by the advocate Chin refugee community to date. And many employers come to comprehend what has been stressed.
The next step after the end of this massive programme on how the government will take actions against refugees and asylum-seekers is unceasingly worrisome element for the entire refugee community in Malaysia.
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