No further extension for Immigration's 3+1 programme after Dec 31

PUTRAJAYA: The voluntary surrender programme for illegal foreign workers, also known as the 3+1 programme and the rehiring of foreign workers will end on Dec 31.
Immigration department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said there will be no further extensions after that.
"Just like the e-card, there will be no further extension after Dec 31. So employers and foreign illegal workers should be responsible and do the necessary. Do not wait until the last minute," Mustafar said to the media after chairing the monthly meeting.
He said those who qualified for the e-card previously can register for the rehiring programme.
"Those who want to register for the rehiring programme can do so, there are employers who need workers. Employers can employ foreign workers. But they must go through the legal process, and not make use of illegal workers," he added.
Mustafar said since the beginning of this year, 9,521 operations to track illegal workers were carried out.
"From the operations, we arrested 29,665 foreigners and 36,102 of them have already been deported back to their countries. The number deported is more than the number we arrested this year because some of the cases were from last year,"Mustafar explained.
Since Feb 13 this year, 493,145 foreign workers and 132,805 employers have applied for the rehiring programme.
"We want Malaysia to be free from illegal foreign workers. We will not stop until we have 'cleansed' Malaysia from illegal migrants," he said.