Monday, 6th July 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 24th February 2026, 10:58 AM
Between 1 January and 19 February this year, Malaysia’s Immigration Department conducted extensive operations resulting in the detention of 7,043 illegal migrants across the country. The sweep targeted nationals from multiple countries, although the authorities have not disclosed the exact number of detainees from each country.
Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli, Deputy Director-General (Operations) of the Immigration Department, stated, “We are continuously carrying out coordinated and targeted operations to strictly enforce immigration laws. No compromise will be made for those violating the rules and regulations.”
During the 50-day period, the law enforcement branch conducted a total of 1,855 operations, inspecting 30,177 individuals. Out of these, 7,043 were arrested for illegal presence in Malaysia.
The legal actions taken against the detainees are summarised in the table below:
| Legal Provision | Number of Cases | Description of Offence |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration Act 1959/63, Section 6(1)(c) | 4,804 | Presence without valid pass or travel documents |
| Immigration Act 1959/63, Section 15(1)(c) | 1,250 | Overstaying beyond permitted period |
| Immigration Regulations 1963, Rule 39(b) | 806 | Violation of pass conditions |
| Other offences | 183 | Miscellaneous violations |
The detained migrants include nationals from Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, India, and China.
Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli emphasised that these operations are part of a broader effort to maintain law and order, public safety, and border security. He added that such operations would continue robustly in the future and urged the public to report any verified information regarding immigration violations to the authorities.
This recent enforcement drive highlights the Malaysian government’s firm stance on immigration control and its commitment to upholding the integrity of the country’s legal framework. By conducting rigorous inspections and legal actions, the authorities aim to ensure that all residents and foreign nationals comply with established laws, contributing to social stability and security.
In summary, the 50-day operations involved over 1,800 coordinated enforcement actions and the inspection of more than 30,000 individuals, reflecting Malaysia’s proactive and sustained approach to combating illegal migration and enforcing immigration regulations.
If you like, I can also create a visual chart showing the distribution of cases by legal provision to make the report more analytical and reader-friendly.
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