Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) detained 1,043 foreign nationals in a nationwide integrated operation conducted from Monday to yesterday. Its director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, said that in the large-scale operation, 3,307 individuals were inspected following public complaints and information about the presence of foreign nationals at certain locations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, of the total number detained, the highest number involved Bangladeshi nationals, followed by Indonesian and Myanmar nationals, with the majority of them being men. Zakaria Shaaban told reporters after an operation at an apartment late last night that during the operation at the apartment, 330 individuals were inspected. Of that figure, 248 foreign nationals, aged between 17 and 59 years, were detained for further investigation. Myanmar nationals recorded the highest number of arrests at this location, totaling 117 people. The operation began around 10.30 pm and involved inspections in two residential blocks.
Zakaria stated that the operation also involved the detention of children, most of whom were with their parents, to ensure they were not left without guardians. As a result of the operation, JIM also issued 45 witness summonses to Malaysian citizens to assist in the investigation against homeowners suspected of harboring illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, Zakaria reminded foreign nationals without valid documents or permits to take the opportunity to surrender through the Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0, which is still being implemented until May 31, 2027. They can voluntarily surrender to JIM, pay a fine of RM500, before being allowed to return to their home country. Zakaria advised taking this opportunity before detainment and legal action occur.
Commenting on the detention of the holder of a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card, he said his side would conduct a review to ensure the authenticity of the document. Zakaria noted that JIM also does not deny that there are illegal immigrants who have been blacklisted and who are trying to re-enter the country via illegal routes or 'rat trails'. He said that JIM is now conducting an average of more than five enforcement operations daily nationwide, in addition to continuously carrying out repatriation processes to ensure that detention depot capacity is sufficient.
Zakaria mentioned that the repatriation process is carried out daily to make room for new arrests. JIM is collaborating with foreign embassies and Wisma Putra for the documentation of foreign nationals who have no documents at all. Zakaria added that JIM has repatriated more than 31,000 foreign nationals as of July this year, while about 28,000 individuals who were arrested have been placed in detention depots.