MYXpats Centre Committed To Strengthening Enforcement, Oversight Of Expatriate Immigration Services

PETALING JAYA, 6 February 2017 – In line with its mandate to ensure the smooth facilitation of top foreign talent with expertise needed by Malaysia’s priority sectors, the Malaysia Expatriate Talent Service Centre (MYXpats Centre) has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding both the needs of national security and economic development by strengthening the enforcement and oversight role in its provision of fast, efficient and service-driven expatriate immigration services. This announcement was made today following a working visit to MYXpats Centre by the Immigration Director-General YBhg Dato' Sri Haji Mustafar bin Haji Ali.

MYXpats Centre is a one-stop centre that processes and issues all Employment Pass (EP) applications and other EP-related passes for expatriates working in Malaysia. Jointly managed by the Immigration Department of Malaysia and Talent Corporation Malaysia (TalentCorp) and overseen by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), the centre commenced operations in June 2015 as part of a broader enhancement of immigration services beginning with the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) in 2014.

By registering with ESD, companies are able to utilise MYXpats Centre to apply for EP or other EP-related passes on behalf of their expatriate employees. Security vetting of the applications are then conducted by the Immigration Department, while TalentCorp evaluates the suitability of the applicants for the positions they are applying for based on the needs of the industry and employer. This rigorous process not only balances the nation's security and its economic development, but has in the past enabled MYXpats Centre personnel to detect and report various cases of EP applications using falsified letters of support and other fraudulent documents¹.

MYXpats Centre has to date approved 82 percent of EP applications within its five-day client charter, up from 71 percent in its first operational year. Not only that, over 13,220 companies from priority sectors (including Manufacturing, Business Services, and Construction) have been registered with ESD. This not only underscores the Malaysian Government’s pledge to streamline and enhance immigration service delivery, but highlights the breadth of employers who recognise MYXpats Centre’s value in meeting their business needs.

Speaking to reporters after the working visit, Dato' Sri Haji Mustafar bin Haji Ali said, "Malaysia’s economic growth has led to the creation of professional opportunities which need highly specialised skills, particularly in high impact, high value sectors. However, the Government’s priority first and foremost is to ensure our nation’s wellbeing is not jeopardised by an over-reliance on foreign labour or any security risks that come with facilitating the entry of foreign talent."

"As such, and through the hard work and dedication of the team at MYXpats Centre, we will continue to work closely with leading employers to meet their business needs while balancing security requirements," Dato' Sri added.

Shareen Shariza binti Dato' Abdul Ghani, Chief Executive Officer of TalentCorp added, "TalentCorp’s primary focus has always been and will continue to be Malaysians in Malaysia. At the same time, it is important to recognise the positive effects of top foreign talent, particularly those with critical skillsets, in spurring the competitiveness and innovative capabilities of Malaysia’s workforce. Drawing on our strong relationships with employers in Malaysia’s key industry sectors, TalentCorp is proud to collaborate with the Immigration Department to better facilitate companies access foreign skill sets needed through MYXpats Centre."

For more information on MYXpats Centre, please visit https://esd.imi.gov.my/portal/ or call 03-8892 3939.

¹ Kenyataan Akhbar MYXpats Centre (TalentCorp, December 2015) [link here]