PETALING JAYA: Foreign workers are not stuck at KL International Airport, but only waiting to settle their compound notices, says the Immigration Department.

       "The department wishes to clarify that the foreigners at KLIA are waiting for their turn to pay the RM500 compound notices and receive their Check Out Memo before being allowed to leave Malaysia," Immigration director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said in a statement on Wednesday (July 21).

       He was responding to news reports that large groups of foreigners were in KLIA due to long waits at Immigration counters, leading to missed flights.

       The foreigners are believed to be illegals who took up the government's repatriation and recalibration programme.

       "Up until July 20, as many as 101,691 foreigners have participated in the recalibration programme. Of that number, 83,117 have already left Malaysia," Khairul said.

       He added that the department noticed several people had missed their flights and remained at the airport until the next available one.

       "The department has taken steps to speed up the process via special counters in KLIA. As many as 20 additional counters and waiting areas will be opened at the short term car park, which can hold between 850 and 1,000 people at a time.

       "Eight more counters will be opened at KLIA 2, with a capacity of 500 people at one time. Both locations and waiting areas are expected to be fully operational next week," he said.

       Work to open special counters in Johor is also under way, to help foreigners returning to Indonesia via ferry.

       "The department would also like to stress that only illegal foreigners with negative RT PCR Covid-19 tests are allowed at the counters," he said.