Immigration D-G: No extension on E-kad

PETALING JAYA - The Immigration department will not give in to employers who chose to make the E-kad applications (enforcement cards) for their illegal foreign workers at the last minute.

Reiterating there will be no extension to the June 30 deadline, Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said employers were given sufficient time to put in their applications, but many chose to wait until the last minute.

“We sent out repeated reminders to employers and workers since we opened the applications for the card on February 15,” he said when asked to comment on the long queues at Immigration offices nationwide over the last two days.

Mustafar said the department’s offices were swamped by thousands of employers and workers yesterday after the long Hari Raya break.

“We have all counters operating but staff can’t cope with the number of applicants at present,” he said.

He said the department could help ease the situation by leaving the counters open until midnight tomorrow when the deadline ends.

In a statement to the media, Mustafar said as of 4pm yesterday, 126,350 E-kads were issued, and 23,678 employers applied for the cards.

“Just for yesterday until 4pm, 599 employers registered 2,825 illegal foreign workers and 1,828 cards were issued.

“No matter what, we will conduct a nationwide operation from July 1 to nab foreigners with no proper documentation, and those caught will be deported. Employers found hiring foreigners illegally will have to face the music when the deadline ends,” Mustafar added.