Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the department had made thorough preparations to ensure the programme ran smoothly.

“This includes adequate preparation in terms of manpower as well as systems that have been reactivated following a hiatus of about two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said during a press conference on enforcement operations in Balakong, here, last night.

On Nov 18, Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad, said that the VTL via the Causeway and the Second Link would be activated simultaneously with the one between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Meanwhile, Khairul said the Recalibration Plan for Illegal Immigrants programme which ends on Dec 31, would not be extended.

“For employers who register their employees in the portal (by the end of December), even though the temporary working visit pass (PLKS) has not been issued (and) is under process (after that), enforcement action will not be imposed on them,” he said, urging employers to make full use of the facility.

Meanwhile, he said 129 illegal immigrants were detained at a factory producing metal tools in Balakong, Seri Kembangan, here, at 8pm last night, on suspicion of not having any valid documents and misusing documents issued by the immigration department.

He said they comprised 110 men and 19 women from Indonesia, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh aged 20 to 49.