He said the programme has recorded 228,961 registrations since it started on May 19 last year, with 204,523 undocumented migrants already repatriated.

“Our records show that Indonesians are the top applicants, followed by Bangladeshis,” Bernama reported him as saying today.

Zakaria said his department has requested an extension of the programme once it ends on April 30.

“Once a decision is made, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will announce it,” he said.

The programme allows undocumented migrants to return home without being prosecuted after they pay compound fines based on their specific offences and fulfilling certain conditions.

Under the programme, a RM500 fine is imposed for entering or remaining in Malaysia without a valid pass and overstaying. Violating pass conditions carries a penalty of RM300.