Registration date of the illegal workers under Malaysian Government’s 'Back to Good' has already expired. January 13 is the last date to return home for the registered illegal workers. However, many workers are believed to have stayed back in Malaysia illegally.
Workers have answered straightforward why they did not take this opportunity; there is no guarantee of what to do after going back home. So under such uncertain future they don’t go back home. Some went to Malaysia taking loan and the loan was not repaid. In such a situation what to eat after returning home or how to repay the loan. It is better to stay in hiding for as long as we can.
There is another class who are waiting in the hope that they will get the chance again. They think the Malaysian government will offer such opportunities again. For example, illegal laborers were legalized in the financial year of 2017-18. They think there is a lot of demand of the workers in Malaysia, so they will be forced to give them a chance again. Some have been hoping for that opportunity. There are a small number of workers who could not take special pass only to return home due to lack of plane ticket collection.
The Malaysian government announced the August-December "Back to Good" program under general amnesty. It is said that there are some who entered Malaysia illegally, while there are some who came legally but subsequently became illegal for various reasons. They were supposed to collect a special pass to return home depositing 700 Ringits. For this, those illegal migrants were supposed to be present physically at the immigration with passports and tickets.
Those who did not have a passport was supposed to be given special pass only if they appear with their travel pass from the High Commission of their country. They had to leave Malaysia within 7 days of receiving the pass by registering. Those who took this opportunity will be blacklisted for the next 5 years. During this time, they will not get the chance to enter Malaysia.
Under this program, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and China registered 1 lakh 75 thousand 471. Indonesia had the highest number of these. Bangladesh ranks second in terms of numbers.
Some Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia have entered illegally. Those who went on a tourist visa did not return. There are a large number who have gone to Malaysia legally. But after going there, they became illegal for various reasons. According to Malaysian law, there is no opportunity for a job change in a company that has gone to Malaysia for work. Many Bangladeshis changed jobs because of higher wages, or because of the employer's tyrannical attitude. It is found that one worked in Malacca and the other works in Zahur Baru. He changed his job with the expectation of higher pay-bonuses through self-dealing. There is one class who had been invalidated by fraud while renewing work permits through brokers.
After 2011, opportunity to be legalized for illegal Bangladeshi workers was given five times. The Malaysian government had given opportunity in 2017-18 year to become legal before ‘Back to Good’ policy. At that time, about 6 lakh applied for legalization. But only 2.75 lakh were legalized.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia, Shahidul Islam, told barta24.com that as of December 31, about 50,000 workers have registered. There is no scope of further registration. Those who have registered will be able to return to the country by January 13. This is how the Malaysian authorities informed me.
In response to a question about what will happen about those who did not take this opportunity, Shahidul Islam said, what happens to illegal immigrants of other countries, so will happen to our workers. They will be dealt with the existing laws.
What will be number of those who got registered but still not able to return home? Replying to such question, the High Commissioner said, we do not have the exact information at this time. We are keeping communications with immigration. Hopefully the correct information will be available soon.
Although there are about 10.50 lakh legal Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, but there is no exact figure of illegals. It is not possible to give it. Although it is possible to tell the number of people who have entered with a passport visa, it is difficult to get an estimate of the number of people who have floated by boat. Among them the number of Rohingyas is less floating on boat. The Rohingyas feel comfortable introducing themselves as Bangladeshis.