KL offers amnesty to illegal workers

KL offers amnesty to illegal workers

MALAYSIA: Malaysia has offered an amnesty for all illegal
immigrants to return home during the Muslim fasting month of
Ramadhan, a day after pardoning Indonesian illegals, a minister
said on Friday.

An estimated 1.2 million illegal immigrants would be allowed
to return to their home countries during a two-week amnesty
period starting from Oct. 29, Home Minister Azmi Khalid said.

"We are not going to penalize them. Many of them are lying low
for fear of getting caught by the authorities. This time, we will
allow them to walk away scot-free," Azmi told AFP.

However, a large-scale deportation exercise would begin in
January, he warned.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said thousands of illegal
Indonesian workers would be allowed to return home to celebrate
Islam's biggest festival of Eid al-Fitr. -- AFP