Malaysia detains 472 migrants without proper documents
Malaysia’s Immigration Department detained 472 labour migrants without proper documents, including eight Nepali citizens, during a raid in the Kotaraya area of Kuala Lumpur. As The Kathmandu Post reports, the operation took place on Sunday and targeted foreign workers who had gathered on their day off for leisure and shopping.
Document checks
Kuala Lumpur Immigration Director Datuk Hamsha bin Injau said the operation began at around 11:00. Law enforcement officers checked the documents of nearly 2,500 foreign nationals, while those detained on the streets were handcuffed.
Those detained included 439 men and 33 women aged between 18 and 62. According to the Immigration Department, they had no valid identity or travel documents, had overstayed their visas, used unrecognised documents, or had violated provisions of immigration law.
The detainees are from ten countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, China, Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia. All were taken to the Bukit Jalil immigration detention centre for further investigation and legal procedures.
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Voluntary return programme
The raid took place while Malaysia’s Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 was in effect. It was initially planned to run from 19 May 2025 to 29 April 2026, but was extended until 31 May 2027.
The programme allows people without proper documents to voluntarily leave Malaysia after paying reduced fines: 500 ringgit for illegal entry or overstaying, 300 ringgit for violating pass conditions, and 20 ringgit for a special pass.
Immigration authorities warned that those who do not use the programme may face detention, prosecution and deportation. According to official department data, 254,186 migrants from 112 countries registered for it last year, while fines and fees totalled 120 million ringgit.
