JOHOR BAHRU (July 29): The Return Recalibration Programme special counter has been extended to Johor and will be opened at the Immigration Office in Stulang Laut here, beginning Sunday.

Johor Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir said the move is a continuous improvement measure following the opening of the counter at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on July 5.

He said the setting up of the counter at the sea port of entry was to facilitate the return process of illegal immigrants to their homeland by ferry.

“Registration can be made as early as July 31 and illegal immigrants who have fulfilled all requirements can come to the counter to return to their respective countries,” he said in a statement here today.

The immigrants are required to have among others, valid travel documents that have been approved by their respective embassies, flight tickets to their homeland, pay the RM500 compound and must produce the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) screening test slip, which should be valid for 72 hours from the time of their flight.

“Only those illegal immigrants who are tested negative are allowed to deal at the counter. The payment (compound and special pass) can be made only via debit card, credit card or Touch ‘n Go and e-Wallet,” he said.

According to him, five special counters will open from 8am to 5pm, and will only operate on days when there are no ferry services to avoid congestion among immigrants and other passengers who are returning to their country of origin on the same day.

He urged all illegal immigrants to take this opportunity to immediately return to their homeland and not wait until the last minute and reminded them not to use middlemen or agent services for the recalibration programme.