JOHOR BARU: Out of more than 10,000 illegal immigrants deported from Johor so far this year, about 6,000 of them had registered under the Immigration Department's 3+1 Voluntary Surrender Programme.
Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Rohaizi Bahari said enforcement activities between Jan 1 and June 26 this year led to 10,518 illegal immigrants being deported from the state.
"From that figure, 4,009 illegal immigrants were deported through immigration detention depots, and 6,509 surrendered themselves in the Voluntary Surrender Programme and paid the 3+1 fine," said Rohaizi after the department's monthly assembly and handing over of Aidilfitri contributions to immigration officers at the Setia Tropika Home Ministry Complex, here today.
Rohaizi said, despite the Voluntary Surrender Programme offering a cheaper alternative than the illegal ways of leaving the country, many illegal immigrants still chose the latter because they were ill-informed of the offer.
"During the festive season, operations at the east coast areas of Johor such as Kota Tinggi and Pengerang are stepped up because immigrants use illegal means to return to their home countries.
"I urge these foreigners to heed the call from Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to register in the Voluntary Surrender Programme," he said, adding that registration for the programme was conducted at the department's branch at Level 1 of Wisma Persekutuan, Johor Baru.