Latest news with #ExcellentServiceAwards
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
More time given for illegal migrants to go home
PUTRAJAYA: Undocumented migrants in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan will now have additional time to return to their home countries legally under the extended Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 (PRM 2.0). Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the programme, now set to run from May 19 to April 30, 2026, was approved by key regulatory agencies, including the Attorney-General's Chambers. 'The extension aims to facilitate the voluntary return of undocumented migrants without subjecting them to legal action. PRM 2.0 is not open to individuals who registered but failed to leave under the previous programme. 'It is also not available to those blacklisted by the Immigration Department or individuals with arrest warrants or who are wanted by the authorities,' he said after presenting the Immigration Department's Excellent Service Awards yesterday. PRM 2.0 provides undocumented migrants the opportunity to return to their home countries voluntarily, and those who qualify will not face prosecution. They are required to pay a compound fee determined by the nature of their offence. Saifuddin Nasution said under PRM 2.0, individuals found entering or staying in Malaysia without a valid pass are subject to a compound of RM500, which also applies to those who overstay the permitted period. He said additionally, an RM300 compound is imposed for breaches of pass conditions and applicants must also pay RM20 for each issuance of a Special Pass. He added that foreign children under the age of 18 who had overstayed or were brought into Malaysia without a valid pass are exempt from paying the compound fee but are still required to pay the RM20 charge for the Special Pass. He said individuals with special legal status, such as foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens who have overstayed, are required to present themselves at the Immigration Department's Visa, Pass and Permit Division for pass adjustment. 'The Home Ministry urges all parties, including foreign representatives, employers and migrant communities to disseminate this information and encourage early participation to avoid congestion as the deadline approaches.' Saifuddin Nasution also announced that a total of 7,200 policemen would be deployed for the Asean Summit, which would be held on May 26 and 27 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. He said over 2,000 personnel at the Immigration Department are currently undergoing training to ensure a seamless process when delegates arrive. 'It's crucial that the movement of people and goods is seamless. We have mapped out all primary entry locations, such as Subang airport, where many will be arriving.' He added that the road closures for the Asean Summit would be announced on May 20. He said the Home Ministry plans to carry out its dry run on May 20, and the police are currently in the final preparation stage. Kuala Lumpur is set to host the 46th Asean Summit, alongside the second Asean-GCC Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Economic Summit, all taking place this month.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
ASEAN Summit: PDRM, Immigration in final security preparations
PUTRAJAYA: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Immigration Department are in the final phase of security preparations ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place in the federal capital later this month, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said a total of 7,227 PDRM personnel will be deployed to ensure the safety and smooth movement of delegates, while more than 2,000 immigration personnel are on standby to ensure full compliance with immigration procedures. 'We want a seamless process when delegates arrive, not just in terms of passport and travel document checking, but also baggage handling. 'There must be no hiccups at all. The movement of people and goods, whether involving officers, senior officials, ministers or heads of state, must be completely smooth,' he told a press conference after presenting the Immigration Department's Excellent Service Awards here today. The 46th ASEAN Summit will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on May 26 and 27. Also scheduled are the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit. Saifuddin Nasution said several key entry points have been identified for the arrival of state guests, including the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the Bunga Raya Complex and the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, which are expected to receive several special flights. He added that PDRM would oversee traffic control to ensure the smooth movement of official vehicles and foreign delegations, particularly with the presence of ASEAN leaders and GCC representatives and the anticipated arrival of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. 'A dry run will begin on May 20, PDRM will be deployed in advance,' he said, adding that road closures in conjunction with the summit would be announced later. He also said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had conducted a site visit to several key summit venues last week and was given a comprehensive briefing on the overall preparations, including security arrangements. The 46th ASEAN Summit is expected to bring together leaders of the 10 member states to discuss regional issues, enhance economic cooperation, and advance the principles of inclusivity and sustainability. Malaysia took over the ASEAN Chairmanship from Laos on Jan 1, 2025, with the theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', reflecting the nation's aspiration to build a united and prosperous ASEAN. This marks Malaysia's fifth time chairing ASEAN, having previously held the role in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
Barnama
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 Extended Until April 2026
GENERAL PUTRAJAYA, May 16 (Bernama) -- The government has extended the Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 (PRM 2.0) from May 19 this year until April 30, 2026, for undocumented migrants in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the decision, approved by relevant regulatory bodies including the Attorney General's Chambers, aims to allow undocumented migrants to return to their home countries voluntarily without facing legal action. 'PRM 2.0 is not open to individuals who registered but failed to leave under the previous programme. 'It is also not available to those blacklisted by the Immigration Department, or individuals with arrest warrants or who are wanted by the authorities,' he told a press conference after presenting the Immigration Department's Excellent Service Awards here today. PRM 2.0 offers undocumented migrants a chance to leave the country voluntarily. Those who qualify will not be prosecuted but will be required to pay a compound based on the nature of their offence. Saifuddin said under PRM 2.0, a compound of RM500 is imposed on individuals who enter or remain in Malaysia without a valid pass, as well as those who overstay beyond the permitted period. In addition, a compound of RM300 is levied for violations of pass conditions. Applicants are also required to pay RM20 for each issuance of a Special Pass. 'Foreign children under 18 years old who have overstayed or were brought into Malaysia without a valid pass are exempted from the compound but must still pay the RM20 fee for the Special Pass,' he said. Individuals with special legal status, such as foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens who have overstayed, are required to present themselves at the Immigration Department's Visa, Pass, and Permit Division for pass adjustment.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 extended until April 2026
PUTRAJAYA: The government has extended the Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 (PRM 2.0) from May 19 this year until April 30, 2026, for undocumented migrants in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the decision, approved by relevant regulatory bodies including the Attorney General's Chambers, aims to allow undocumented migrants to return to their home countries voluntarily without facing legal action. 'PRM 2.0 is not open to individuals who registered but failed to leave under the previous programme. 'It is also not available to those blacklisted by the Immigration Department, or individuals with arrest warrants or who are wanted by the authorities,' he told a press conference after presenting the Immigration Department's Excellent Service Awards here today. PRM 2.0 offers undocumented migrants a chance to leave the country voluntarily. Those who qualify will not be prosecuted but will be required to pay a compound based on the nature of their offence.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- The Sun
Harness AI usage to boost productivity, govt staff told
KUALA LUMPUR: Staff of Communications Ministry should harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost productivity, sharpen service delivery and fight fake news, said its minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Speaking at the 2024 Communications Ministry Excellent Service Awards (APC) Ceremony for the Peninsular Zone , Fahmi said AI must be used wisely to complement – not replace – human effort and excellence. 'I acknowledge the growing challenges, especially for the ministry personnel, with the rise of AI. But it shouldn't be seen as a shortcut for plagiarism. Instead, AI should serve as a smart assistant,' he said. Fahmi shared his experience using AI tools such as Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot and DeepSeek for work-related queries and decision-making. 'Just like how we use Waze or Maps to navigate, AI can help us work smarter, but it doesn't replace the need for effort and quality. 'Ministry staff are encouraged to swiftly understand and make full use of AI tools, especially now that many tasks can be simplified with AI support.' said. He also urged the Institut Penyiaran dan Penerangan Tun Abdul Razak to ramp up training efforts for civil servants in AI usage. Fahmi proposed that a record be maintained of all departments and agencies receiving such training from the institute. In the fight against misinformation, Fahmi highlighted AI's role in content verification, citing X (formerly Twitter), which now includes an AI tool Grok, that analyses posts and adds factual context when false information is detected. He noted that the government previously launched an AI-driven fact-checking chatbot called Aifa to curb fake news on WhatsApp, following a survey that revealed many Malaysians rely on the app for news updates. 'AI can be a powerful tool against misinformation, but it must be used responsibly,' he stressed. At the awards ceremony, 541, including one medal recipient, from the ministry and its peninsula-based agencies, were honoured. 'Receiving such an award should not breed complacency. It must serve as a benchmark for even better service. From here, our performance must continue to rise,' he said. Also present were Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, its secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, and Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin. On Asean, Fahmi said the government is actively leading high-level discussions aimed at securing outcomes that benefit not only Malaysia but the entire Asean region, as the country gears up to host the Asean Summit on May 26 and 27. He said Malaysia is leveraging its role as chair to share its experience in managing cyber and digital security, including regulatory measures applied to international tech platforms. 'Recently, we encouraged Asean nations to explore collective strategic frameworks to tackle regional challenges. One such initiative is the development of a 'toolkit' to combat online harms. 'We've seen the damage caused by scams, cyberbullying and the spread of extremist ideologies on social media here in Malaysia.' Fahmi added that Asean's varying levels of digital development make regional collaboration crucial. 'Malaysia is currently the only country to have officially succeeded in licensing an application like Telegram. 'We cannot become a truly excellent nation by only looking inward. We must understand and engage with the broader ecosystem, contributing to regional stability and shared prosperity.'
