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Ahmadul Kobir, Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s Immigration Department detained 252 foreign nationals, including 164 Bangladeshis, during an integrated enforcement operation in Selangor early Saturday, as authorities intensified a crackdown on undocumented migrants and other immigration violations.
The operation was conducted in the USJ 23 area and around the Kompleks Pasar Besar Meru in Klang, Selangor, where immigration officials inspected the documents and immigration status of 710 foreign nationals.
According to Malaysian immigration authorities, some undocumented migrants attempted to evade arrest by fleeing into a nearby abandoned mining area, while others hid under beds and in other concealed places to avoid detection.
Mohmad Khusairi Kamarudin, deputy director of Selangor Immigration (Control), said the 252 detainees were aged between 18 and 50 and comprised nationals of six countries.
The detainees included 164 Bangladeshis, 57 Myanmar nationals, 24 Indonesians, three Indians, three Nepalese and one Pakistani.
All 164 Bangladeshi detainees were men, according to the immigration authorities.
Among the 57 Myanmar nationals detained, 50 were men and seven were women. The Indonesian detainees comprised 16 men and eight women. The three Indian nationals, three Nepalese nationals and the Pakistani national were all men.
The operation began at around 1:55am and involved personnel from the Selangor and Putrajaya Immigration Departments. Officers from the National Registration Department (JPN), National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) and Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) also participated in the operation.
Officials detected several immigration offences during the raid, including failure to produce valid travel documents, breaches of immigration pass conditions and overstaying beyond the period permitted under Malaysian immigration rules.
The large-scale operation reflects Malaysia’s continued efforts to strengthen enforcement against undocumented migrants, particularly in areas where foreign workers are concentrated.
Mohmad Khusairi said enforcement operations would continue as part of efforts to identify, detain, investigate, prosecute and deport foreign nationals found to have violated the country’s immigration laws.
He also warned employers and members of the public against harbouring or protecting undocumented migrants, stressing that those who assist people staying illegally in Malaysia could also face legal consequences.
Authorities urged members of the public who have information about undocumented migrants to report it to the Immigration Department.
The 252 detainees are being investigated under Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963. Their cases will be processed in accordance with the relevant immigration laws and procedures.
Malaysia hosts a large population of foreign workers, including hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis employed in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, services and plantations. Immigration enforcement remains a major concern for migrant workers, particularly those who lose legal status because of expired permits, changes in employment or other documentation problems.
The latest operation also highlights the risks faced by undocumented workers, who can become vulnerable to arrest, detention and deportation when they fail to comply with Malaysia’s immigration requirements.
