The country's Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail provided this information in a message posted on social media on Sunday (October 4). He said the operations were conducted from January 1 to September 29.
Expatriates
More than 37,000 illegal immigrants arrested in Malaysia in 9 months
During the same period, 1,809 employers were also arrested on charges of hiring and sheltering illegal immigrants. Of them, 1,692 are Malaysian citizens.
The Home Minister said that to protect borders and sovereignty, operations are being carried out not only against undocumented immigrants but also against employers and syndicates that facilitate them. Although 346 employers were arrested in 2023 on charges of hiring illegal immigrants, the number rose to 1,859 in 2024 and stood at 2,202 in 2025.
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He further said that instead of seasonal operations, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Immigration Department are now conducting operations regularly. Legal action will be taken against fraud, illegal entry, and those who remain after their visas expire.
Urging foreign nationals to enter Malaysia following legal rules, the Home Minister also requested the country's citizens not to shelter or harbour illegal immigrants.