SEPANG: Expatriates no longer need to wait 30 days to be issued with an employment pass as they can now pick it up on their arrival in Malaysia, says Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (pic).

       The Home Minister said these passes would be ready for collection at the expatriate service division satellite centre (ESC) located at the KLIA.

       "The initiative is to improve ease of doing business in Malaysia and serve as one of the 100-day KPI.

       "This centre has been made to improve services and work processes provided by the Immigration Department,” he said when launching the ESC on Tuesday (Nov 30).

       Under the previous process of issuing employment passes to expatriates, they will have to obtain a letter from the Immigration Department while abroad and will be issued with a 30-day special pass upon arrival.

       Employers will then have to secure an appointment via online for the issuance of the employment pass and go to the Immigration office to collect it once payment is made over the counter.

       Under the new process, an approval letter for an employment pass will be issued while an expatriate is abroad and payment will be made online.

       Upon their arrival, the expatriates can collect their employment pass at the ESC.

       According to Immigration statistics, there are 140,598 expatriates and their dependents who are in the country as of Oct 21.

       The highest number of expatriates is from India, followed by China, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

       Hamzah said they would conduct a comprehensive study to determine those who could be categorised as expatriates and enjoy facilities accorded to them.

       “We are looking at which level of expatriates should be accorded these special facilities.

       “We are also reviewing if those earning RM3,000 or RM5,000 monthly should be regarded as expatriates,” he said.