Immigration detains 30,801 foreigners in 2026, with 2,324 caught misusing passes amid a government crackdown on illegal work and business activities.
PETALING JAYA: More than 2,000 of the over 30,000 foreigners detained by the Immigration Department this year were found to have misused their passes, as authorities intensify efforts against illegal employment and unauthorised business activities.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the department was stepping up enforcement against foreigners who breached the conditions attached to their immigration passes.
He said this included individuals found working or operating businesses without valid authorisation.
“As of May 31, 2026, the Immigration Department has detained 30,801 foreigners for various immigration offences.
“Of that number, 2,324 individuals were detected misusing the passes issued to them, including being involved in activities that were not in line with the original purpose of their entry into Malaysia,” he said in a statement today.
Zakaria said the department had introduced several measures to strengthen enforcement, including the establishment of an enforcement inspectorate, targeted operations at identified hotspots and action against employers found to have violated immigration regulations.
“The Immigration Department has also set annual key performance indicators which emphasise action against foreigners and employers who commit immigration offences as part of efforts to strengthen compliance with national laws,” he said.
He added that enforcement efforts would be further intensified in line with the government’s call for tougher action against pass abuse and unauthorised business activities.
“In line with the government’s emphasis on increasing action against pass abuse and business activities without permission, the Immigration Department will continue to intensify enforcement operations and strengthen strategic cooperation with ministries, enforcement agencies and local authorities,” he said.
The latest enforcement push follows remarks by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail yesterday that agencies had been instructed to act immediately against foreigners abusing social visit passes to conduct business activities in the country.
Saifuddin said the issue had been raised during a Cabinet meeting after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim received complaints from the public regarding foreigners entering Malaysia as social visitors before allegedly engaging in commercial activities.
According to the minister, such activities included the operation of salons, restaurants and other service-based businesses.
The government has in recent days signalled a broader crackdown on immigration abuses, with multiple agencies expected to coordinate efforts to address loopholes involving business licensing, taxation and the misuse of immigration passes.
