Immigrants line up to leave Malaysia before repatriation deadline

After living in Malaysia for 12 years without proper papers, Ramlah, an Indonesian woman, plans to return home through a voluntary repatriation program for foreign migrants that expires on Dec. 31, or face fines or prison.

The 57-year-old originally came to Kuala Lumpur to visit her son, and occasionally sold snacks here to make some money. Now, she’s ready to return to Aceh province with her daughter, 10, who was born in Malaysia but holds a non-citizen birth certificate.

“It’s time to go back,” Ramlah, who goes by one name, told BenarNews, while holding her daughter’s hand as they lined up at the immigration office’s compound in Kuala Lumpur. 

“I’m grateful to Malaysia for the opportunities here, but this isn’t our country. We have to return and rebuild our lives back home.”

Her son, who is in Kuala Lumpur, legally, plans to stay in the country.

Ramlah is among 200,000 foreign nationals in Malaysia who have seized on the opportunity to return home through the Migrant Repatriation Program, a 10-month amnesty program where they can leave the country without facing arrest or penalties after paying a small fee and proving they have made necessary travel arrangements. 

Starting in 2025, immigration offenders who remain in the country face fines of up to 10,000 ringgit (U.S. $2,247), a prison term of up to five years, or both. Those who overstay risk daily compounding fines and harsher penalties for repeat offenses.

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‘Self-surrender’

Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff, the Kuala Lumpur immigration director, said the program was designed to “encourage self-surrender among migrants.” The majority of those enrolling in the program hail from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and India.

“This initiative allows individuals who have overstayed or violated immigration laws to leave Malaysia by paying minimal fines instead of facing legal prosecution,” he told BenarNews.

Those who want to return to their home countries must have valid passports and tickets to leave within 14 days of receiving the pass through the program, provided they pay a reduced fine of 500 ringgit ($112) and secure travel documents.

The program’s response has been strongest in Selangor and Johor states along with Kuala Lumpur, he said, noting that many undocumented migrants work in construction, manufacturing and domestic services.

“Starting Jan. 1, we will ramp up immigration operations nationwide to apprehend those who remain undocumented. These individuals will face full legal consequences,” Wan Mohammed Saupee said. 

Kicking off the program in March, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said about 600,000 undocumented immigrants were expected to register by the end of December.

Results appear to fall short of the projection – in Kuala Lumpur, over 30,000 migrants have signed up, while local daily Harian Metro reported over 200,000 have participated nationwide.

The immigration department did not respond to a BenarNews request for updated data on the program.

One returnee, Bangladeshi construction worker Syakir Munsyid, 38, said the program offered a chance to return home with dignity. After nine years in Malaysia, he decided to leave because his son had health issues back home. 

“I’m grateful to the government for this program. It has made it easier for me to return with my family,” he told BenarNews.

Criticisms 

Even as officials praise the program for its amnesty approach, critics argue that it is deeply flawed. 

Adrian Pereira, executive director of the North-South Initiative, a migrant rights advocacy group, said many workers became undocumented because of systemic failures.

“According to our research, workers often lose their legal status due to exploitative employers, lack of proper documentation pathways or even scams,” Pereira told BenarNews.

“Punishing them with fines and blacklisting them from returning is unjust. It’s a brutal system that profits off their hardships.”

Pereira also questioned what will be done with collected fines.

“Is this money being reinvested in migrant-related services, or does it disappear into government coffers?” he said.

British migrant rights activist Andy Hall acknowledged that while the voluntary repatriation program benefits some workers, it often overlooks victims of forced labor.

“Many workers returning through this program have faced serious abuse and exploitation during their time in Malaysia,” Hall said.  

“The government must screen for victims of human trafficking before repatriation to ensure justice and proper remediation.”

What’s next? 

Immigration authorities are preparing for a significant enforcement push, beginning Jan. 1.

“Starting next year, we will ramp up operations nationwide,” immigration’s Wan Mohammed Saupee said. “Those who remain undocumented will face full legal consequences, including prosecution, fines, or imprisonment.

“We are focusing on three groups – undocumented migrants, employers and those providing shelter,” Wan Mohammed Saupee said. “Our goal is to create an ecosystem that is unconducive for illegal immigrants.”