KUALA LUMPUR: As of November 13, a total of 41,073 illegal immigrants have been arrested across Malaysia in 17,745 enforcement operations conducted by the Immigration Department (JIM), Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reported.
Additionally, 1,589 employers have been detained for various immigration-related offences during the same period.
Saifuddin reaffirmed the Home Ministry’s commitment to enhancing the country’s security by continuing enforcement operations and implementing preventive measures to curb the rise in illegal immigration.
According to the minister’s statement, the number of foreign workers registered with JIM stood at 2,438,468 as of October 31, working in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, services, plantations, agriculture, domestic work, and mining.
This information was provided in response to a question from Datuk Seri Dr. Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran) regarding the current number of foreign workers and illegal immigrants in Malaysia, as well as efforts to address the influx of illegal foreign nationals.
In comparison, during the same period last year, JIM conducted 2,762 joint operations with other enforcement agencies. These efforts led to the arrest of 8,812 illegal immigrants and 52 employers involved in immigration violations.
The Immigration Department has carried out continuous operations to detect overstaying foreign visitors. These measures include arrests, prosecutions, and deportations of individuals violating Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966, and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
Moreover, action has been taken against employers who hire illegal foreign workers.
Saifuddin noted that in 2023, 27,739 foreign visitors were arrested and detained in immigration detention centres. From January 1 to November 14 this year, 41,234 illegal immigrants were placed in immigration detention depots across the country.
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