There is currently more than 2 million legal and illegal foreign workers in Malaysia, mainly from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, and Pakistan. In some areas of the city they comprise a large portion of the population! Frequent police raids have not been able to reduce the number of illegal workers and this has led to many social problems.
Recently, the government decided to grant them amnesty through a nation-wide registration exercise, legalizing those workers that are still required in important sectors such as manufacturing and plantations, and allowing others which are unemployed and have overstayed to return home without being penalized. However, they all need to be registered and have their particulars including their photographs and fingerprints are recorded.
It has been quite an educational experience for me. At times I sympathize with the foreign workers who have left their homes and countries to work here and save enough money to support their families back home. They are willing to do hard labour and suffer long hours.
The registration exercise ended last yesterday. So far almost 800,000 illegals have been registered. Some say that 500,000 have not registered, mostly the plantation workers from Bangladesh who think they can continue to evade the authorities.
As for me, I don't need to work 7 days a week any longer. Hurray! I promised the boss I will continue to drop by at the office to help them out.....but only 3 days a week. I need time again for the home, family and friends. Also, I need to go on holidays now and then.
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