New system for Msians seeking jobs in UK

The Star Online
2 November 2008

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians seeking employment in Britain will have to adhere to a new points-based immigration system that the British Government will implement from Nov 27 onwards.

Britain has imposed the new immigration system, comprising five tiers covering skilled and unskilled workers, and students, on all non-European Union nations, according to the UK Border Agency.

Skilled workers form the bulk of Malaysian workers heading to Britain.

British High Commissioner Boyd McCleary has written to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim to brief the latter on Britain’s latest points-based immigration system which is modelled along the Australian system.

A British High Commission official said no decision has been taken on whether a visa regime would be imposed on Malaysian travellers and tourists heading to Britain.

Earlier on Sunday, Dr Rais warned that Malaysians who intend to go to Britain will face obstacles if they do not fulfil the new conditions to be imposed by the British Government.

“I will issue a statement after informing the Cabinet, hopefully next week, about various changes relating to entry,” he said when asked to comment on Malaysians staying illegally in Britain being offered amnesty and a one-way ticket home by the British Government.

“It appears that in future it will be more difficult for any nationality to stay in Britain,” Dr Rais told reporters after attending the launching of Malaysian Bahasa Melayu Teachers’ Institute Alumni in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, reports IZATUN SHARI.

“We in the Foreign Ministry will work together with the Home Ministry to understand the new policy, so that can we can advise Malaysians travelling there,” he said.

It has been reported that more than 30,000 Malaysians are residing in Britain illegally. The Malaysian Government is working to get them home after they had overstayed or abuse their visas.

Malaysia is in the top five countries whose citizens are consistently being denied entry into Britain, Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain Datuk Abdul Aziz Mohamad said last month.

Malaysians are also among the top 10 nationalities who overstay and are in the top 20 for overall immigration abuses in Britain, he added.

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