KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — A total of 242,063 undocumented migrants from 112 countries have been repatriated under the Migrant Repatriation Programme since its launch May 15, 2025, until June this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said they comprise the majority of the 264,191 foreigners registered under the programme.
He said the Immigration Department (JIM) has also intensified enforcement against undocumented migrants with compliance monitoring, the repatriation programme, and strategic collaboration with various agencies.
“From January 1 to June 15, 2026, JIM carried out 5,470 enforcement operations nationwide, involving inspections of 76,608 individuals,” he said when winding up the debate for the Home Ministry (KDN) on the motion on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (SUHAKAM) Annual Report 2024.
On public concern over areas with a high concentration of foreigners, Shamsul Anuar said JIM has stepped up operations at high-risk locations, including premises employing foreign workers, education institutions, business premises, wholesale markets, and residential areas, with 2,528 inspections conducted.
He said JIM has also carried out 470 integrated operations with police, the National Registration Department (JPN), local authorities, and other agencies, as well as 71 joint operations with local authorities to curb the involvement of foreigners in illegal business activities.
Meanwhile, Shamsul Anuar said PDRM’s Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) recorded 378 criminal cases involving police personnel in 2023, rising to 407 cases in 2024 and 463 cases in 2025.
He said 12 deaths in police custody were recorded in 2023, increasing to 13 cases in 2024 and 22 cases in 2025.
“The Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) received 100 complaints in 2023, increasing to 338 complaints in 2024 and 388 complaints in 2025.
“However, these statistics should be interpreted in the context of changes to the complaints mechanism following the establishment of the IPCC in July 2023, which took over the relevant functions from the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC),” he said.
On the right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, Shamsul Anuar said the Sedition Act 1948 remains relevant as an enforcement instrument against seditious speech, adding that action would only be taken where there are sufficient grounds.
He said this includes speeches or actions containing elements of sedition or seditious tendencies, as well as racial issues, violence, incitement of hostility, and threats to public order or national security.
