Diplomatic Correspondent; Dbarta24 — Malaysian immigration authorities have detained 1,043 undocumented foreign nationals, including 460 Bangladeshi citizens, following an extensive two-day nationwide operation targeting irregular migrants across various residential hotspots.
The large-scale crackdown, initiated on August 10, targeted residential complexes and locations frequently accessed by foreign workers.
According to Malaysia’s Immigration Director-General, Datuk Zakariya Shaaban, officers screened 3,307 individuals following intelligence gathering and numerous complaints filed by local residents.
The operation led to the arrest of 880 men and 163 women aged between 17 and 59 for violating various provisions of the national immigration law.
Bangladeshi nationals comprised the largest group of detainees, consisting of 369 men and 91 women.
“The arrests were made following public complaints, intelligence reports, and surveillance conducted by the department,” Datuk Zakariya Shaaban stated during a news briefing late Tuesday following an inspection at an apartment complex in the Sungai Chua area.
The remaining detainees include 328 Indonesian nationals, 186 individuals from Myanmar, 55 Indian men, 22 Nepalese men, and 143 foreign nationals from various other countries.
The mass detention highlights Malaysia’s ongoing strict enforcement policy against illegal immigration and undocumented employment.
The detained foreign nationals have been transferred to immigration holding facilities for further investigation and legal processing prior to potential deportation proceedings.