PUTRAJAYA, March 8 — The Home Affairs Ministry (KDN) has decided to terminate the services of the agencies which handle Malaysian visa applications for Bangladeshi foreign workers, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Applications by employers can now be made via the Immigration Department’s MyVisa system using an active ID and a user manual which the government will provide.
“Employers are responsible for expediting the entry process of foreign workers based on the approved quota (related to the Labour Recalibration Programme 2.0).
“At the Immigration Department, visa or eVisa applications can be processed in one to two days by the employers themselves,” he said during a press conference today.
Saifuddin also called on employers to take advantage of the system to make the visa application process more efficient and quick.
Meanwhile, he urged the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Human Rights Watch (HRW) to present evidence of incidents of abuse and death involving children and women at Immigration depots in Malaysia.
“This is to enable us to open the investigation papers as soon as possible. With complete information, I myself will not delay (to investigate), and we at KDN take the matter seriously,” Saifuddin said.
He also expressed willingness to meet with NGOs to discuss the matter.
In a report, HRW claimed over 1,400 children are being detained, with some separated from their families or were alone.
In another development, Saifuddin said KDN will work with the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) regarding the teachings of ‘The Ahmadi Religion of Light and Peace’.
This cooperation was to thoroughly review the teachings to see if there were any threats to public safety and peace.
“I will work with Datuk Mohd Na’im (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs),” said Saifuddin, adding that no police report regarding the matter has been received.
Yesterday, the media reported Na’im confirming the teachings are against Islamic law.
— Bernama
