PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Business Associations (FMBA) has appealed to the government to extend the entry deadline for foreign workers with approved Visa With Reference (VDR).

“FMBA has received feedback that many foreign workers, despite having their VDRs submitted before the April 21 deadline, were not allowed into the country if they arrived after the May 31 entry deadline.

“FMBA requests that the Malaysian government extend the current arrival deadline for workers with approved VDRs to July 30,” said its chairman, Datuk Abdul Malik Abdullah.

Abdul Malik said the FMBA is concerned that the expenses of foreign workers who were denied entry would be forfeited, and employers would have to pay more money to send the workers back to their countries of origin.

FMBA was also informed that there is a “significant lack of processing capability” at airports, even though the government should have expected a surge in foreign workers entering the country as the May 31 deadline loomed.

Abdul Malik said many workers were purportedly made to wait over 12 hours without access to adequate facilities as they waited to be cleared.

“FMBA urges the government to address these issues promptly to ensure that all workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve while entering the country,” he said.

Abdul Malik said they were also told that the government is considering crafting new guidelines for entering foreign workers into Malaysia.

“FMBA and its members are keen to provide constructive feedback to ensure that the new policies align with the operational realities and needs of various industries,” he said.

The government had earlier extended the deadline to apply for VDR approvals from March 31 to April 21, which trade groups at the time also said needed more time.