KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — Foreign workers will begin receiving identity cards similar to the MyKad next month, in an effort to curb illegal immigrants in the country.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (picture) said the first batch of I-Kad will be issued to the 646,000 workers who have applied, on November 15.
“It will replace the need for foreign workers to carry passports to prove they are legal labourers.
“With the improved security features, it will ensure that enforcement is effective and strengthened,” he said after launching the Tafsir Al-Quran Ar-Rahman at Pencetakan Nasional Malaysia Bhd (PNMB) headquarters yesterday.
PNMB is also the principal producer of the new passes, which will have a barcode, cardholder’s biometric information and colour-coded according to employment sector for easy identification.
The cost of applying for the card will be fully borne by the foreign workers, and will be extended to all 2.5 million workers, foreign students, firearm licensees, People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) members and Civil Defence Department members.
The government has launched a nationwide crackdown since last month to flush out an estimated two million illegal immigrants in the country.
Part of the 6P programme, the latest stage involves an ongoing exercise to trace, arrest, prosecute and extradite foreign nationals who violate the country’s immigration and anti-human trafficking laws.
But human rights activists have warned that asylum seekers and refugees may inadvertently get swept up in the crackdown.
