Accra:Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that 37,313 illegal immigrants were arrested in 10,374 enforcement operations conducted nationwide from January 1 to September 29 this year. These operations were carried out by the Home Ministry (KDN) in collaboration with the Immigration Department (JIM), inspecting a total of 137,603 individuals.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin Nasution highlighted the ongoing efforts by KDN and JIM to address the longstanding issue of illegal immigration, which he attributed to historical laxity and leakages in the administrative system. He emphasized that enforcement should not only target illegal immigrants but also those who employ or protect them. This year, 1,809 employers were arrested for related offenses, with 1,692 of them being Malaysian citizens.

He detailed that 346 employers were arrested in 2023, 1,859 in 2024, and 2,202 in 2025. Saifuddin Nasution also stressed the importance of compliance with lawful procedures by foreigners working or visiting the country, warning against immigration offenses such as trespassing, document forgery, or overstaying.

The Home Minister urged Malaysian employers to avoid hiring or protecting illegal immigrants for profit, as such actions exacerbate security issues. He called for collective efforts to resolve the crisis, not just as a responsibility of JIM, but recognizing its impact on the economy, security, and social order. He expressed his desire for KDN and JIM to maintain an offensive approach with relentless daily operations under the MADANI Government administration.