Home minister: Employers account for more than half of Malaysia’s RM91.8m immigration compound collections

KUALA LUMPUR, November 7 — In the first ten months of 2026, nearly half of the RM91.78 million collected in Malaysia's immigration compounds came from employers, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The figures, reported by Utusan Malaysia, indicate that RM50.04 million, or 54.5%, was collected from 2,459 employers, while the remaining RM41.74 million was obtained from 29,593 undocumented migrants.

This reveals that 32,052 individuals and employers were involved in compoundable immigration offences. Saifuddin stressed that holding employers accountable, rather than solely targeting undocumented migrants, was a crucial aspect of immigration enforcement. He emphasized that employers must ensure that foreign workers have valid documentation and work permits, and comply with the conditions set by authorities.

The minister also cautioned against treating the amount collected in immigration compounds as the sole indicator of enforcement success, stating that tackling undocumented migration required comprehensive operations, inspections, and monitoring, alongside penalizing employers who violated immigration laws. Saifuddin urged the public to report suspected immigration offences to the authorities, rather than taking matters into their own hands, emphasizing the need for a firm, fair, and integrity-driven enforcement approach.