More than 45,000 foreigners sent home this year

In the first ten months of the year, immigration officials in Malaysia have detained more than 65,000 foreigners for various immigration offenses, with over 45,000 of them being repatriated back to their home countries, according to a senior immigration official. The official, Lokman Effendi Ramli, a deputy director-general of immigration, revealed that checks were carried out on more than 146,000 foreigners between January 1 and October 15. On average, more than 38 immigration operations were conducted daily during this period.

Among the nationals most frequently sent back, Lokman highlighted Bangladeshis, Indonesians, and Myanmarese. The most common offenses included lacking valid documents or permits to stay in Malaysia, overstaying, and abusing granted passes or permits, such as working in Malaysia while on a social visit visa. In a recent construction site raid in Kubang Kerian, authorities detained 55 foreigners who were subsequently taken for further inspection.

Another operation this morning saw officials apprehend a Myanmar man suspected of facilitating the illegal smuggling of 10 compatriots out of Malaysia through unlawful routes. The 10 individuals, aged between 20 and 34, allegedly paid around RM3,500 each to be transported. They were reportedly en route from Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur, passing through Wakaf Che Yeh, in an attempt to evade Malaysian authorities.