The 6P programme was a 2011 initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia to legalize as many as 2 million illegal immigrants working in the country. [1] [2] The programme is named after six Malay words: pendaftaran (registration), pemutihan (legalisation), pengampunan (amnesty), pemantauan (supervision), penguatkuasaan (enforcement), and pengusiran (deportation). [3] A cabinet meeting was held on 22 June to consider the Home Ministry's proposal, which was planned to take effect on 1 July. [4] Immigrants would have three weeks to enter the amnesty programme, [3] a period during which the intake of foreign workers would be temporarily halted. [4] Malaysia relies heavily on foreign workers, which made up 2 million of its workforce of 12 million. Illegal foreign workers in the country numbered an additional 2 million. [5]
Since the programme's announcement on 6 June, immigration brokers such as those in Burma saw an increased demand for their services. [6] In response to reports of agencies collecting money from immigrants for the legalisation process, the Malaysian government began blacklisting companies because it had not authorized the collection of payment. [7]
References
- ^ Gooch, Liz (7 June 2011). "Malaysia Considers Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ "Kenyataan Media Setiausaha Bahagian Hal Ehwal Imigresen" [Press Release of the Secretary of Immigration Affairs] (in Malay). Ministry of Home Affairs. 8 June 2011. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ a b Singh, Sarban (6 June 2011). "Comprehensive exercise soon to legalise and send illegal immigrants home". The Star. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Malaysia mulls freezing intake of foreign workers". Sin Chew Daily. Agence France-Presse. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ "Malaysia plans amnesty for illegal workers in July". BusinessWeek. Associated Press. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ Ko Htwe; Sai Zom Hseng (10 June 2011). "Brokers Cash in as Burmese in Malaysia Seek Legal Status". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ Habibu, Sira; Daniel, Steven (7 June 2011). "Amnesty scam". The Star. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
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