MELAKA – A total of 59 foreign nationals were detained during an immigration enforcement operation at two construction sites in the Bukit Baru area of Central Melaka on Wednesday, 12 August 2026.
The operation was conducted by the Melaka State Immigration Department in cooperation with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Melaka as part of an integrated enforcement effort.
The operation began at about 10.50 am, with enforcement officers inspecting a total of 73 individuals at the two locations. The individuals checked included both Malaysian citizens and foreign nationals.
Following the inspection, 59 foreign nationals were detained for suspected offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
The detainees comprised 58 men and one woman. According to the Melaka State Immigration Department, they were made up of 44 Bangladeshi nationals, nine Indonesians, three Myanmar nationals and three Pakistani nationals.
The department said the individuals were detained over several suspected immigration offences identified during the operation.
One of the suspected offences involved Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which concerns foreign nationals being in or remaining in Malaysia without a valid pass authorising their stay.
Another suspected offence falls under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act, relating to remaining in Malaysia after the expiry of an immigration pass.
The authorities also identified suspected breaches under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, which concerns violations of the conditions attached to an immigration pass.
Following their detention, all 59 individuals were taken to the Machap Umboo Immigration Depot in Alor Gajah, Melaka.
They were placed at the depot for further action by the immigration authorities in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.
The enforcement operation forms part of the department’s wider efforts to address immigration offences involving foreign nationals and employers.
The Melaka State Immigration Department said enforcement activities would continue through ongoing operations targeting illegal immigrants and foreign nationals who breach the conditions of their passes, as well as employers and premises owners who employ or allow illegal immigrants to enter and remain at their premises.
The operation also involved inter-agency cooperation, with the participation of KPDN Melaka alongside the Immigration Department.
Such integrated operations enable enforcement agencies to conduct inspections at locations where foreign workers are employed while checking compliance with the relevant requirements.
The construction sector was among the locations targeted during the latest operation, with officers carrying out checks on individuals present at the two sites in Bukit Baru.
The Immigration Department did not provide further details on the identities of the detainees or the specific construction projects involved.
Further action against those detained will be determined through the applicable immigration enforcement process.
The operation was carried out by the Melaka State Immigration Department on 12 August 2026 under the department’s continuing enforcement efforts against immigration offences in the state.
The department said it would maintain its enforcement activities to address illegal immigration, breaches of immigration pass conditions and offences involving employers or premises owners who fail to comply with immigration requirements.
