KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 — The Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) for foreign workers in the textile, barber and goldsmith sub-sectors has been extended for three months until June 15.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the matter was decided after taking into account the concerns of employers who were affected by the decision to terminate the PLKS for the three sub-sectors.
“Accordingly, the PLKS for the three sub-sectors are still allowed to be extended beyond March 15, 2023.
“However, after the date (June 15), there will be no further extension of the PLKS until the results of the study and engagement sessions with industry players in the three sub-sectors are presented in a committee meeting with the Home Minister and the Minister of Human Resources,” he said.
He said this during the winding up session of the Supply Bill 2023 for the ministry at the committee level in the Dewan Rakyat, today.
He said previously, the employment of foreign workers in the three sub-sectors had been frozen since 2009, and in 2019, were categorised as sub-sectors that were no longer allowed to employ foreign workers.
Existing PLKS holders were only allowed to work until March 15, 2023.
Meanwhile, commenting on the disappearance of the MV Dai Cat 06 cargo ship, which was reported missing since January, Shamsul Anuar said the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) had issued a notice on the disappearance of the ship after receiving a request from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
“MMEA is still conducting operations to search for the ship using its air and sea assets,” he said.
On Jan 9, a cargo ship carrying a load of metal pipes worth RM726,205 along with five crew members was believed to have disappeared in Indonesian waters and a report regarding the incident was lodged by the ship’s agent on the same day.
In another development, Shamsul Anuar said that foreign children who were adopted by local citizens would not automatically acquire citizenship.
He said this was because the granting of citizenship status to foreign children who were adopted by local citizens was subject to and regulated by the Adoption Act 1952 (Act 257) and the Registration of Adoptions Act 1952 (Act 253).
“However, adoptive parents can apply for citizenship for their adopted child before the age of 21.
“In this case, consideration is subject to the provisions under Article 3 of the Federal Constitution as well as the legislation in force, including matters related to legal adoption,” he said.
The Dewan Rakyat sitting continues tomorrow.
