JAKARTA - Malaysia’s Immigration Department said it detained 471 undocumented migrants and 31 employers during 179 enforcement operations across the country from June 8 to June 12.
The department said on its June 12 Facebook update that 1,494 people, including Malaysians and foreign nationals, were inspected during the five-day sweep.
Immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban said the migrants were detained on suspicion of offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and related regulations. The 31 employers were detained to assist investigations into suspected hiring or harbouring of foreign nationals who had committed immigration offences.
Johor recorded the largest number of operations, with 52 raids. Perak recorded 36 operations, followed by Kedah with 25 and Putrajaya with 22.
Zakaria said the checks focused on whether foreign nationals were complying with the conditions of their immigration passes. “Every pass issued has specific purposes and conditions that holders are required to follow,” he said.
He said misuse of passes, including unauthorised work or illegal business activity, could lead to legal action. The department also said it would continue enforcement against foreign nationals involved in illegal business, pass misuse and work without authorisation.
Malaysia’s Immigration Department says staying in the country without a valid pass or permit is an offence under Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. Its public guidance says conviction can carry a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, and possible whipping of up to six strokes.
The department also lists employer offences under Section 55B of the Immigration Act. The provision covers employers who hire one or more people other than citizens or entry permit holders when those workers do not have valid passes.
The latest sweep follows wider immigration enforcement this year. Zakaria said on June 9 that the department had detained 30,801 foreign nationals for various offences as of May 31, including 2,324 people accused of misusing immigration passes.
