Immigration seeks extension for PRM 2.0 as over 228,000 migrants register, with more than 204,000 already repatriated to their home countries.
PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department has applied for an extension of the Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0(PRM 2.0), though a final decision has yet to be reached, according to Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban.
To date, 228,961 foreign nationals have registered under the initiative, with 204,523 individuals already repatriated to their home countries.
The programme has also generated RM114,585,840 in government revenue through registration fees and related collections.
Speaking at the Ops Serkap press conference at the Immigration headquarters today, Zakaria confirmed that the department’s internal planning necessitated the request for more time.
“We have indeed applied for an extension, but no decision has been made yet. God willing, once a decision is reached, the Home Minister will personally make the announcement,” he stated.
The PRM 2.0 began on May 19 last year and is currently scheduled to conclude on April 30 across Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan.
The programme allows undocumented migrants, including overstayers and those without valid passes, to return home voluntarily rather than facing prosecution during enforcement operations.
Zakaria stated that the programme typically experiences a slow initial response, followed by a sharp surge in applications as the deadline approaches.
This trend has led to significant congestion at immigration offices.
“As usual, this programme moves in phases. The response is rather slow at the beginning, but as we near the end, the numbers increase sharply. That is why Immigration offices are currently full of foreign nationals wishing to join the programme,” he explained, adding that there is a daily limit on the number of cases that can be processed.
According to departmental records, Indonesian nationals constitute the largest group participating in the repatriation scheme, followed by Bangladeshis.
“In terms of nationality, the highest number remains Indonesians, with Bangladeshis being the second-highest group. A more detailed breakdown will be disclosed in the near future,” Zakaria said.
