23 October 2004 – The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today informed Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo that it will send a number of consular missions to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawaw in Sabah, Northern Borneo to process and issue travel documents and extend assistance to Filipinos working and living there who will avail of the immigration amnesty program by the Malaysian government.

The amnesty program is open to all undocumented foreign workers in Malaysia and will be implemented from 29 October to 14 November 2004 at 19 exit points all over Malaysia.  The grant of amnesty will allow undocumented foreign workers to return to their country of origin without being fined or placed under arrest.  Under Malaysian law, foreign nationals who enter the country illegally or overstay their visas may be jailed for up to five years or fined up to 10,000 Malaysian Ringgits.

The Embassy informed Secretary Romulo that, based on the announcement by Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Azmi Khalid, undocumented workers who availed of the amnesty could still return to Malaysia provided that they have the proper documents and that they go through the proper channels.

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi earlier granted amnesty to all undocumented foreign workers in Malaysia regardless of what immigration laws they had violated.  The amnesty program was initially intended only for undocumented Indonesian workers as a gesture of Prime Minister Badawi to the new Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.  However, after representations by other foreign missions, including the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian government decided to extend the grant of amnesty to all undocumented foreign workers.

The consular missions of the Philippine Embassy will be assisting the concerned OFWs in meeting the requirements of the amnesty program, particularly the issuance of Philippine passports or travel documents. For workers who wish to avail of the amnesty, the Malaysian Government requires the following: (a) valid travel documents such as passports or temporary travel certificates or other documents recognized by their respective governments; (b) leave Malaysia through any of the 19 designated exit points and (c) arrange for payment of their transport out of Malaysia.    END.