{
  "id": 12049625,
  "title": "Immigration denies claim 200,000 Thai nationals working at tomyam restaurants",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/immigration-denies-claim-200-000-thai-nationals-working-at-tomyam",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T01:43:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1547806/immigration-denies-claim-200000-thai-nationals-working-tomyam"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Immigration Department in Malaysia has refuted claims made by the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) in Thailand, which suggested that over 200,000 Thai nationals were working at tomyam restaurants in Malaysia without valid work permits. According to Zakaria Shaaban, the Immigration director-general, only 12,629 Thai nationals held valid Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS) as of September 15, with the majority being cooks. The remaining workforce comprised a smaller number of Thai nationals employed in various roles within the restaurants. The Immigration Department emphasized that the claim of 200,000 Thai workers in around 5,000 tomyam restaurants is unverifiable and will continue enforcement actions against employers or premises hiring foreigners without valid passes or work permits.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Khaosod English",
        "title": "Thai Airways CEO denies corruption allegations over 860,000-bottle wine purchase",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/thai-airways-ceo-denies-corruption-allegations-over-860-000-bottle",
        "published": "2026-10-05T03:53:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}