Malaysia to launch crackdown vs illegal foreign workers

MANILA, Philippines - The Malaysian government announced a crackdown on foreign nationals including unregistered Filipinos starting January 21, the Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia said.

Ambassador Eduardo Malaya advised Filipinos staying or touring in Malaysia to always carry proper identification documents, while those lacking official immigration approvals should immediately complete their papers.

"We would like to remind our nationals to make sure that their immigration or work documents are in order, and to carry with them proper documents, notably work permit or passport with valid visa, to avoid inconvenience in case of immigration checks," Malaya said in a statement Thursday.

Malaya advised those working in Malaysia to ask their employers or agents for their passports and other IDs for their own protection.

He also urged those who have been overstaying in the country to arrange for their voluntary return to the Philippines or they may be subject to biometric fingerprint registration and deportation.

Assuring that overstaying nationals will not be persecuted, Malaya said only those caught by Malaysian authorities would not be allowed to return to Malaysia even under a different name.

Filipinos planning to work in Malaysia should secure approved work permits and similar papers, Malaya said.

The crackdown operation dubbed "Ops Bersepadu" targets illegal immigrants from Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.

The Philippine Embassy said that Kuala Lumpur also banned foreign workers from fastfood restaurants and ordered to prioritize the hiring of locals.

The Embassy added that Filipinos who arrive in Malaysia as tourists cannot work there legally unless they obtain job offers from Malaysian employers through the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency in Manila or the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

Filipinos have also been targets of illegal recruitment tactics as of late.

The fraudulent recruiters promise Filipinos to facilitate the conversion of their tourist passes into work visas in exchange for money.

Kuala Lumpur launched an initial crackdown in September last year when nine Filipinos were right away apprehended for lacking necessary documents. The overseas workers faced deportation.