Bosses of expatriates in Malaysia who do not wish to land in jail or end up with a hefty fine are advised to ensure that no forged documents are submitted for employment pass applications.

“Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafa Ibrahim said those employers found guilty of submitting forged documents can be jailed up to seven years or fined, or both,” as reported by The Star Online.

He stated that the immigration department will also not hesitate to blacklist companies involved and their representatives.

“The companies cannot blame their consultants or agents because a director of the company making an application must be present to authorise the agents,” he said at a press conference at the My Expatriate Talent Service Centre (MYXpats Centre) yesterday.

“The purpose was to make the process easier and faster but some companies have tried to take shortcuts by forging supporting documents,” he commented at the opening of the MYXpats Centre – a one-stop centre, jointly managed by the Immigration Department and Talent Corp Malaysia, for the issuing of employment passes and other related papers for expatriates in the country.

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According to a joint press release by the Immigration Department of Malaysia and Talent Corporation Malaysia, eight cases of expatriates using forged documents and fraudulent material have been detected so far. Police reports have been lodged and investigations are taking place.

The cases being investigated have been found to involve applications made in the second half of 2015, made by multinationals and Malaysian companies in the construction, manufacturing, mining, electronics and sports industries.

Mustafa noted that some of the supporting documents even submitted even had forged logos of government and industry regulatory bodies.

“The Malaysian government is committed to streamline and enhance the immigration service delivery for expatriate talent, especially those with expertise needed by priority sectors spearheading Malaysia’s economic transformation.

“We will continue to work closely with leading employers to meet their business needs while balancing security requirements,” the press release reiterated.

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